But Chelsea cut him off before he could suggest, maybe, that they leave. “Though, we’re all here now. A lovely spring weekend in the West Country, away from the city. Perfect.”
No one said anything after that.
Snowball broke that crust of ice by sauntering in and brazenly jumping on the sofa between Chelsea and me.
Chelsea pressed herself even deeper into the corner of the sofa.
I tucked my witch book at my side and put her in my lap.
She settled in, booty to my lap, belly to my belly, paws to my chest, and started purring when I started stroking.
“I’m allergic to cats,” Chelsea proclaimed.
“If you were, which you are not, you should have avoided a home that is home to six of them,” Battle stated.
“Darling, how could you say I’m not?” Chelsea pouted. “You know how sniffly I get when I come here.”
“His point, I believe, is, if that’s the case, don’t come here,” Temperance explained.
Prue, who’d seated herself in one of the two chairs at the end of our arrangement, shot me big eyes.
I bit my lip in return.
“Thank goodness I brought my allergy pills,” Chelsea said, showing signs of being oblivious to everything, except what she wanted to be happening. “Though, for now, could I ask you to put it down?” she asked me.
I didn’t put her down.
Instead, I got up, and Snowball and I settled in the chair next to Prue.
“I suppose that’s better,” Chelsea sniffed. She then looked to Battle. “Are we dressing for dinner tonight?” She shifted her attention to Courtney. “It’s tradition here the first night anyone comes to call.”
“I know,” Courtney replied tersely. “I’ve been here before.”
“Repeatedly,” Temperance added.
“Oh!” Chelsea cried and turned to me. “Or…maybe not. Do you have a gown?”
“I have three of them,” I told her. “Forewarned for packing by my darling friend Prudence.”
“Are the other two better than the green one?” Battle asked.
“Depends,” I answered. “But they’re all awesome.” I smiled at Courtney. “Says me.”
She smiled back, and she was openly relieved that at least I was making it plain I didn’t think she was behind this lunacy.
“What I mean is, will they make me want to fuck you in them like the green one did?” Battle asked.
Chastity whisper-peeped.
Temperance smiled widely before taking a sip of martini.
Prudence didn’t quite swallow the nervous giggle she eventually swallowed.
Rally looked to his lap, but his shoulders were shaking.
Courtney turned her head toward her fiancé and further hid her face behind her drink, but I still saw her massive smile.
Chelsea looked like she was about to explode.
