AllFreeNovel Stories worth discovering

All Yours

Page 57

by Pippa Nixon

‘Not what.’ Amber laughed. ‘Who!’

Gabi shrugged and laughed. ‘True. I went straight from the airport to Walker’s bed. What can I say, we’re making up for lost time!’

‘Wait, look, here comes Isabella,’ Rosie said from her corner viewpoint.

‘Hide me,’ Gabi shrieked and the women huddled together, blocking her from sight. Isabella waved as she wove across the dance floor, her hair up in a sexy, almost undone bun, with tendrils falling around her face, striding out in silver stilettos that made her legs look endless and a silver sequinned minidress that hugged every curve. She took the steps to the booth two at a time and threw her arms out while everyone cheered.

‘We got you a present . . .’ Amber motioned to Robyn and the girls to step aside, leaving Gabi standing there, grinning widely. Isabella shrieked so loudly in delight that the next booth looked over, as she completely enveloped her cousin in a long, hard hug.

‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ she said. ‘It wouldn’t have been the same without you.’

‘I wouldn’t have missed it,’ Gabi said. ‘You’re the closest thing I’ve got to a sister.’ Robyn couldn’t help but glance at Wren, thinking the same of her. Wren blew her a kiss and Robyn’s heart tugged with love for her oldest friend.

Amber held out a tray and Robyn took the proffered shot of rose tequila and swallowed it in one. This was a night out and she was going to make the most of it.

An hour later, Robyn was having the best fun she’d had in ages. She’d chatted to Gabi, who she liked immediately, and found out more about the film she was working on as a stuntwoman. She’d sat with Wren just like old times, catching up on so many things she’d missed over the years, laughing at old mutual memories of good nights out and bad first dates. Robyn realised she wasn’t worrying about Willow; she knew she was in good hands with the babysitter and that was reassuring. Drinks were flowing as Amber introduced her first game.

‘Never Have I Ever! Everyone gets a turn,’ Amber said. ‘But if you’ve done the thing they say, you have to drink. All clear on the rules?’ Everyone leaned into the table on their elbows, apart from Wren who couldn’t reach the table over her bump.

‘I’ll start,’ Amber said. ‘Never have I ever . . . gone skinny dipping.’

They all drank, Wren sipping on her lime and soda, the others a glass of prosecco.

‘Too easy,’ Wren said. ‘My turn.’ She tapped her finger against her lip for a moment and then grinned. ‘Never have I ever . . . sent a naked selfie.’

Rosie and Wren smirked at each other and drank. Isabella and Amber shrugged and sipped. Gabi laughed outright and said, ‘Daily! I mean – long distance calls for nudes!’ Robyn shook her head and left her glass on the table.

‘Never?’ Wren said.

‘Never,’ Robyn said.

‘Me next,’ Gabi said. ‘Never have I ever . . . had sex outside . . .’

She drank first and looked around the table. Wren and Rosie and Amber all shared a questioning look and then shook their heads, Isabella took a swig without comment, and then all eyes were on Robyn.

She lifted her glass and sipped, once.

‘South Africa, on the savannah . . .’

Sipping again, she continued: ‘Australia . . . in the sea . . .’

And again, ‘Sri Lanka . . . in the jungle . . .’

She went to sip again but Wren threw a napkin at her.

‘Show-off!’ They all laughed.

‘What can I say?’ Robyn admitted. ‘I like nature!’

‘My turn,’ Isabella said. ‘Never have I ever . . . fancied someone in this room.’

Rosie and Wren gazed into each other’s eyes and raised their glasses. The other four women turned to peruse the dance floor, scanning the room for anyone they recognised, just as the stag and his groomsmen arrived.

Waving as they passed on the way to their booth, Robyn spotted Fox, her eyes meeting his just as he scanned the crowd and saw him. His cowboy hat only accentuated the crinkle of his eyes as he smiled. Her belly flipped. He looked gorgeous.

Isabella made a love heart sign with her fingers to Etienne and then lifted her glass. Gabi blew a kiss at Walker and drank, and Amber whistled long and low as she spotted Alex and sank her whole glass. Robyn watched Fox’s backside in the best-fitting jeans she’d ever seen and took a long, thirsty swallow.

‘Wait, what?’ Wren said, spotting her action.