Yes. That.
Chapter Sixteen
“Why color inside the lines when coloring outside the lines is so much fun?”
—Not Most Moms
April
“The expression on Jack’s face was totally worth the price of admission.” Rachel looped her arm through April’s as they trekked up the sidewalk, past the convenience store, to the entrance of Brek’s Bar.
Since it was a weeknight, the band would probably not be A-list. But, since it was Brek’s, one could never really be sure. Brek’s Bar was the best place in Denver to hear live music—except for The Pepsi Center when Dimefront played the arena.
April had actually never been to Brek’s.
It seemed like it was for the crowd about a generation behind her. But attorney-friend Sadie had an in with Brek. So she’d made thearrangements. She used that term specifically because when April had called them “reservations,” Sadie laughed like April intentionally told an exceptionally funny joke. (She hadn’t.)
Apparently, Brek’s Bar was not the type of place where one made reservations. It was the type of place that had bouncers and a biker-looking guy tending bar.
The bouncers took one look at Sadie and let her walk straight on through the cordoned-off entrance, totally skirting the line that trailed around the side of the building.
Sadie had decided to get dressed up for girls’ night—ditching her usual pantsuit for a cute yellow sheath dress that looked amazing with the rich depth of her brown skin.
April followed behind Sadie, Rachel and the rest of the girls at her back.
Yes, it was a weekday. They’d never know, given the packed bar.
Sadie found a booth at the back, her name on a table tent. See? That was just like a reservation. April said nothing, though, as she squeezed herself into the booth without jamming an elbow into too many other patrons.
Simone slid in next to April, Yelena joining right beside her.
Sadie and Rachel took the bench across from them.
“Where’s Kaiya?” April had to yell the question to be heard over the noise of the bar.
Rachel yelled right on back. “She had a party.”
Kaiya was their multilevel marketing mom friend—every group needed one. She also sold an amazing skin care line that April absolutely adored.
“Molly?” April asked.
Molly, their dating guru friend, had her own MyTube channel and was April’s biggest cheerleader as she launched her brand.
“School night and a science project.” Rachel pursed her lips. “I know. I’m bummed, too.”
“This is still fun,” Simone elbowed April in the ribs.
April grabbed her cell and checked for messages. Check on the kids. That kind of thing. “It’s something.”
Rachel waved the phone away. “Put that down. They’ll call if they need us.”
April pinched her lips to the side. “What if they’re all unconscious?”
If Simone and Yelena had worn off on her about anything, it was their free-range parenting style, but this was the first time in forever that April had been out. Her job description definitely included a line of worrying for her kids while she was out having fun.
“Jack may be Jack, and as his sister I have to give him plenty of crap,” Rachel said, swirling her fingertip in the air over April’s silent phone. “But I trust him. He’ll have all of those kids—and Trav—eating out of his hand before we get back.”
“NowthatI would like to see,” Kitty said, also sliding into the booth. “Thanks for the invitation.” She sucked a gulp of whatever she was drinking.
