Frankie strikes a pose in her suit. The black legs puddle around pointed black shoes with a kitten heel. A black blazer sits just right on her frame, giving focus to her feminine lines without turning her masculine. Her slicked-back ponytail finishes off the look.
Kindra tugs on the short hem of her purple-sequined cocktail dress. “Jim didn’t get the memo that I hate dresses too. Ezra picked this one out.”
“I can tell,” I say with a laugh. Her full ass nearly peeks from the bottom in the back as she turns, and her tits spill from the top.
Kindra shrugs. “What can I say? He loves to torture himself through dinner, then have dessert back in the room.”
We break into peals of laughter at that, though my laughter is merely polite. I’m too jealous to be genuinely happy for any of them. With the exception of Eve, they’re living out my dreams;they’re all in stable, committed relationships with unstable, non-committal men.
“Sigh. Someday my prince will come,” I say with a wistful look out the window.
“Looks like you damn near had him coming on the log ride,” Eve says with a smirk.
“Oh yeah!” Cat says as she begins opening her case of wonders. She moves the chair from the corner to the middle of the room and motions for me to have a seat. “I’d almost forgotten about that. Were you trying to fuck him on the ride?”
I sit down with a shake of my head. “Um, no. We were trying to change positions so that he could pull the dead bitch out of the boat, but we got stuck.”
Frankie and Kindra share a look and sit on the edge of the bed as Cat starts to work on my face and Eve fiddles with my hair.
“What was that look for?” I ask Frankie.
She fusses with the edge of her ponytail. “Are you...attracted to Aven, perchance?”
Fuck, I don’t know how to answer that. Also, he could be listening. Yeah, I kissed him, but his pride is big enough to overflow the Sphere in Vegas. He doesn’t need an ego boost.
Sensing my hesitation, Kindra fills in the silence. “We only ask because Jim played matchmaker on the cruise, and we have a sneaking suspicion he’s doing it again with you and Aven. We just want to be sure you’re comfortable and that you don’t feel pressured since we’re all...you know.”
“Serial killers?” I say.
“Yeah, that.” Eve pats my shoulder. “We’re overjoyed that you’re joining the club, but we want to be sure it’s fully on your terms.”
Cat stops applying eyeshadow long enough to shudder. “Especially the bit about baiting that one guy. He gives me the creeps.”
“Desmond,” I mutter.
“What’s his deal, anyway?” Frankie asks. “We know a little, but Jim and King won’t give me access to either of your files. Or Aven’s, for that matter.”
“There’s a file on Desmond? Andme?” My eyes widen, and Cat grumbles as I fuck up her eyeshadow work. “Sorry,” I say before closing my eyes again.
“Yes,” Frankie confirms. “There are files on everyone, and I have unrestricted access to all of them, save the few I mentioned. So please, fill in the blanks.”
For the next thirty minutes, I answer questions and get the girls up to speed on the Desmond situation, from how it started to where we are now. Eve and Cat keep busy with the beauty treatments, but all four women listen with their full attention. I haven’t had a dish session since high school, and I’d be lying if I said it isn’t making me a bit happy. No one tells you how difficult it is to make—and fuckingkeep—friends as an adult.
Once they’ve finished dolling me up and I’ve finished telling them tales, Eve passes the garment bag to me. I unzip it with glee because who doesn’t love dressing up? Well, besides Frankie and Kindra. Green velvet fabric spills from the bag the moment it’s open.
I hold the dress against my body, and the girls fall silent.
“It’s perfect for you,” Cat finally whispers.
Eve smiles. “Aven did well.”
“Aven?”
“We wanted the dress to be a surprise,” Kindra explains. “We didn’t know what colors, cuts, and fabrics you liked best, so we went to Aven and had him pick your attire for the evening.”
Frankie leans forward and runs the sleek velvet between her fingers. “It’s no wonder that he knew what would look best on you. We didn’t realize you two knew each other for months before the retreat.”
“Enough talk. Put it on!” Cat says with a clap of her hands. “We’ll turn around if you prefer privacy.”
