She glanced down at what she was wearing. Her work clothes were much too fancy for this crowd, so she quickly changed out of her white silk blouse and gray suit and put on a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a purple sweater. Perfect. If she splashed some wine on it, no one would be the wiser.
At six sharp, the doorbell rang. Julie led the pack into her living room. They came in two cars but arrived together. Hugs were happily given all around.
Robin also sported a new hair color, but she went with pink. Misty wasn’t sure how she felt about the color. Robin’s had been such a pretty shade of golden blond.
Nanette had a new tattoo—this one on her wrist. Misty saw it as she took her coat.
“Can I get you guys some wine?”
“Hell yeah!” Nanette said.
Soon, the party was in full swing. She had put out appetizers and more wine. A lot more wine. They were joking and laughing, and Misty was fully relaxed for the first time in what felt like months. It had been a couple of weeks since Gabe had relaxed her into a sexual stupor.
She had briefly wondered if the party would affect her in a sad way. Gabe still hadn’t called. She’d called him a few choice names in her mind, however.
“C’mon, Misty. Let’s get this show on the road. Where can I set up?” Julie asked.
“Oh, I didn’t know what kind of space you needed. Is the ottoman enough room? I can get a tray if you need a flat surface.” Julie’s expression said it wasn’t ideal. “Or I have the dining table. We’ll have to make room when the pizza comes.” She checked her watch. “That will be in about half an hour.”
Julie shrugged. “I guess the ottoman will have to do. I need to leave the stuff out so everyone can touch it afterward.”
“You mean, we get to try it out?” Jordan asked.
Everyone laughed.
“Yeah, right,” Julie said. “I’ll just pull down the shades so the neighbors don’t get a free show.”
Julie began her demonstration, using a lot of double entendres, making her friends giggle and outright laugh. The wine didn’t hurt, either. Everyone was in a frisky mood when the doorbell rang.
“Oh, that must be the pizza!” Misty yelled out, “Be right there!” She walked briskly to her bedroom to get her wallet.
“I’ll get the door,” Nanette said.
Misty heard her friends squeal and murmur their approval.The pizza must smell delicious, she thought as she rounded the corner. Or the delivery guy might be a hunk.
Gabe stood there, like a deer in headlights.
“Take it off! Take it all off!” Robin shouted. Nanette was running her hands over his chest, and Jordan was pulling his coat off…or trying to.
Julie gave her a big grin. “You didn’t tell me you hired a stripper!”
“I didn’t! That’s my…” She felt helpless. She couldn’t say boyfriend. She didn’t have time to explain he was her brother’s friend.
Gabe yanked his coat out of Jordan’s hand, turned, and fled.
“Crap.”
“Uh-oh. Was that your kinda sorta boyfriend?” Julie asked.
“Not anymore.”
