“Stuff a sock in it, sis.”
That had her giggling even more.
“Now my curiosity has truly peaked,” Ruby said from the other side of me.
Before I could say anything, the door flew open and there stood Alley, along with some of the other ladies who were already there. When we got closer, I saw a frown on the woman’s face, which wasn’t the norm at all.
“No Patience?” she called out as we started up the steps.
With everything going on and embarrassment taking over, I hadn’t realized the young woman was missing just yet.
“No,” Ruby answered as we approached the door. “She said she wanted to stay home with Gramps and Griffin, but I’m sure it has more to do with hoping Jett will get to call. The girl is worrying herself sick now that he is officially overseas.”
Poor Patience, I thought. Now that I had Huntley in my life, I couldn’t imagine him being gone for so long. A night at a time for work seemed like torture enough since I was getting really used to him next to me every night.
“Darn it. It probably would have done her good to be here and try and take her mind off things,” Alley told Ruby. “Well come in, ladies, it’s time to get this shindig going.”
Nerves began to swim in my stomach. I had never been to a sleepover, let alone had friends like these ladies growing up.
Alley made a shooing motion at the guys. “You’re not invited.”
Lyric and Bronson chuckled. Both the men dragged their ladies into their arms, causing Lake to release me, and then kissed them senseless right there in front of everyone watching. My face flamed even hotter.
“Okay, okay, knock it off, this is girls’ time,” Alley proclaimed.
The guys managed to release their wives' mouths and then I heard Bronson whispering to Lake about making sure she takes it easy.
“Yes, dear,” she told him sweetly, while also rolling her eyes.
He lightly swatted her butt. “I saw that.”
Seriously, the two of them were so sweet on each other, they were going to give everyone a toothache.
Aren’t you just as sweet on Huntley?
Shit, I wasjustlike them.
“We’ll be right outside!” Lyric called out and the two men made their way down the steps toward their cars.
“I got protection right inside,” Alley yelled out.
Lyric groaned and threw a hand up, waving it over his head in a dismissal gesture. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Your world-famous bat collection.”
Bronson chuckled as they both kept walking.
I’d, of course, heard about the bats, I’d just never seen them.
Until now.
We followed Alley inside and there they were, all lined up against the wall by the door. Or a lot of them anyway. I had a feeling she probably had others by the back entrance as well.
I had to give it to her. It was an impressive collection of bats in a range of glorious colors and styles.
Alley looked at her beloved bats and then at me. “Nice, right?”
I began to nod my head and was about to say something but stopped as a funny look crossed her face. What was that about? Did I have something on my face?
“Why are your cheeks so red?”
