How the hell did I end up in a room with these three impressive women? I have my job to thank for that. Josie and I met when we were hired byJolieat about the same time. When she discovered that I was all alone in Boston, she invited me over for dinner with her family. I tried to object, but according to her, the Warrens are known for collecting strays, and I’d always have a place with them.
True to her word, she’s included me in holidays, family game nights, and girls’ nights like this for the last four years.
Josie’s and Addie’s families are close, so they’ve known one another most of their lives. Josie is two years older than Addie, but because she spent a good part of her childhood fighting a serious illness, she was a few years behind in school and went to college with Addie. Then there’s Sutton, who’s also been close with Addie since they were little girls. While getting close to people with that type of history would normally scare me—as any type of commitment does—as Josie promised, they brought this stray in and haven’t let me go since.
“How are things going with—” I snap my fingers, racking my brain for the name of Sutton’s latest boy wonder. When it doesn’t come to me, I shake my head. “Hot bartender with the lip ring?”
Sutton snorts. My ability to remember the name of just about any man is nearly nonexistent, and my friends know it. Men serve their purpose, sure, but considering that no man has ever not disappointed me, I don’t go out of my way to befriend them. Especially not the ones Sutton dates, since there always seems to be someone new. Despite the revolving door, Sutton isn’t a player. Not in the slightest. That’d be me. Sutton Jones is a serial monogamist who believes every man she meets will be the love of her life.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but with the way she waxes poetic about every one of them, it sometimes feels like it. She’s in love with the idea of falling in love, not with the men themselves.
“Oh, you didn’t hear.” Addie shuffles into the room with two mugs in each hand. Her caramel balayage looks darker, her hair still damp from outside. Her cheeks are rosy, and her deceptively innocent big brown eyes dance with the promise of secrets. “He ghosted her after she asked him to spend the holidays with her.”
“You what now?” I carefully take two of the drinks from Addie as Sutton takes a third.
“Obviously he wasn’t the one for me.” Sutton takes a sip and sighs. Despite her annoying desire to fall in love, I adore the way she doesn’t let these setbacks dampen her sparkle. She says that every Mr. Wrong brings her one step closer to Mr. Right.
“Or,” Josie says as she sets a platter of brownies on the table, “and don’t take my word for it because I know jack shit about relationships, but maybe asking a man you’ve been out with twice to spend the holidays with your family is a step too far?”
I point at her, lips pressed together. “That one’s onto something.”
Sutton huffs. “Whatever. Can we talk about something else?”
“Ah, yes.” Josie zeroes in on me. “Let’s talk about the interview you have scheduled this week.”
I survey Addie. “Only if you’re comfortable with it.”
She shrugs. “My aunt is one of my favorite people. Couldn’t tell you if any of the tabloid gossip over the years is true, though. To me, she’s always been the only woman other than my mother who can put my father in his place. It’s fun to watch.”
I snort. “My kind of woman.”
“And her closet is incredible,” she adds. “She invited us to come over and pick out anything we want for Camden’s party.”
Eyeing my ample chest, I shake my head. “I don’t think these things will fit into anything your aunt owns.” I’m curvy, with wide hips and thighs. And these double Ds have a life of their own half the time.
I also have an addiction to chocolate and cake. Any kind of dessert, really. So my stomach is soft. I’m essentially the complete opposite of dainty Sienna Harrison, with her petite features and B cup.
“Yeah, I’m not fitting these boobs into any of your aunt’s dresses either,” Sutton says, chin tucked and eyeing her own rack. While her breasts aren’t as large as mine, she’s waif thin, so they look enormous on her body.
Addie waves a hand. “She could alter just about anything in her sleep. Plus, she’s now got the contents of theJoliecloset at her fingertips. There are a ton of options in every size.”
My heart stutters.Jolie’s closet is what legends are made of. My figure is more in line with Catherine Bouvier, the head of the magazine and the fashion icon of our generation. If I find anything she’s worn in that closet, I will cry.
Literal tears.
“See? Now you’re excited,” Addie says, chin lifted and smug smilein place. “So outside of the piece you’re doing about my aunt, what else is going on with work?”
Josie’s eyes cut to mine. She knows as well as I do that I need to knock it out of the park with this article since the other column I work on hasn’t been getting the numbers we need. Still, I’m not a quitter. I can turn it around. I just need a fresh idea to get readers interested again.
Hoping my friends can help me brainstorm, I dive right in. “Honestly, I need a really good hook for the next edition of Calliope’s Column. All I talk about is sex and orgasms. Don’t get me wrong, I love sex and orgasms?—”
“Who doesn’t?” Josie crows.
Addie rolls her eyes and Sutton falls back against the couch with a dramatic sigh. She thinks love is required for sex, but since she falls in love just about weekly, I don’t think she’s missing out too much.
I huff. “It feels like all I do is mimic the original Calliope.” I shrug. Honestly, I don’t even know who that was.Joliepurchased the column years ago, when the original Calliope was ready to retire. Since then, women at the magazine have taken turns acting as the dating and sex guru. I’ve been the author for almost a year, and it already feels tired. “I want to do something smart and edgy and…” I groan and slump back. “I don’t know. More helpful than just telling women the best position for a G-spot O.”
“I thought that was super helpful.” Addie arches a brow. “I mean who knew that it was impossible to reach in missionary?”
