Alana stays behind, watching me with a scowl. “For the record? Effa doesn’t get her feelings hurt. If you managed to do that, then she thinks highly of you.”
Then she walks out too.
I groan and turn, hoping, no praying, that Effa’s coming back so I can fix this.
But it’s Alana again, carrying Effa’s stuff. She gently places my shirt on the sofa. “She said to give this back. And to grab her things.”
“She walked outside in her underwear?”
Alana shrugs. “She’s confident in her own skin.”
I raise a brow. “She’s not the only one. You’re beautiful too, Alana.”
She offers a weak smile. “Maybe, but Effa? She shines. I have to work at everything. Even getting attention.” Her eyes glaze over. “Last night was going great… he was finally opening up to me. Then Effa disappeared, and everything shifted.”
Wait. He?
I wonder if the others know she’s crushing on someone. Doesn’t matter. I’ve got enough of my own mess to deal with.
“Alana?”
She blinks, like she forgot she was still here. “Sorry. I’d better go. Can’t leave Miss Bubbles too long when she’s sad. Alana the Llama to the rescue.”
“Alana the Llama?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
She giggles. “From when we were kids. I had this llama costume. When Effa got in a mood, I’d dress up, spout limericks, and make her laugh.”
I smirk. “You Nimbin girls are something else.”
“Don’t judge.” She grins. “Anyway, I’m off. Cheer up, duty calls.”
I nod. “Tell her I’m sorry.”
“She knows. But she crashes hard. It might take a few hours. She’s our complicated little firecracker.”
“Tell her I’m here if she wants to talk.”
“I will. See you later.” Alana heads for the door, arms full of Effa’s stuff.
Leaving me with one overwhelming thought…
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Seven
EFFA
Luke’s sitting across from me in the car, giving poor Raoul an earful for not keeping him in the loop. Raoul doesn’t deserve this, he was only doing what I told him. I sink deeper into the leather seat, which squeaks against my skin. Wincing as Raoul glances over, I offer a look of apology. He takes the telling-off like a champ, though.
Luke’s so wound up he needs to chill the hell out. I know I should have told someone where I was going, but dammit, I’m twenty-two, not fucking sixteen. I don’t need permission every time I leave a party. Luke acts more like a protective big brother, and right now, he’s seriously working my last nerve.
Goddammit! Raoul’s copping the full brunt of it, and that’s not fair.
“Okay, Luke, seriously... chill the fuck out. It’s not Raoul’s fault. I asked him to bring me, and he stayed all night to keep me safe. He did a good job. Nothing happened. You should be thanking him, not ripping into him.”
Luke turns his glare on me, gnawing on his bottom lip. “Effa…” He sighs. “You think this is funny, but you’re a big-time rock star. And right now, you’re sitting in a car, in broad daylight, wearing nothing but your damn underwear. You don’t see a problem with that?”
I glance down at my matching purple bra and panties and shrug. “Nope. I actually think I look pretty good in this.”
