Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Within ten minutes, both of the girls are at the front door.
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this,” Ciara says, handing Mercedes to me when she walks in, a bottle of wine in her hand. “I might not be able to drink a lot, but man, the taste of wine is calling.”
Bouncing Mercedes, I grin. “She’s got a bottle?”
Ciara nods. “Oh, hell yes she does.”
“I’m sober, give me that baby,” Janine grins, taking Mercedes. “Consider me your fairy god mother for the night.”
“I love you,” Ciara says, pressing her hands together like she’s praying.
“I need the practice anyway.”
“I’m ordering Thai,” Serenity says. “Everyone good with that?”
Nodding, I crack open the bottle. “Let’s do this.”
I’ve never needed this as much as I do right now.
“THAT MOTHER FUCKER,” Ciara gasps, sipping her wine. “I’m going to take him out and kick his ass.”
“That’s what Jackson said,” I laugh. “It’s fine, I can kick his ass all on my own.”
“I can’t believe he had the audacity to use your past against you,” Serenity shakes her head, taking a mouthful of Thai food. “Men are such babies when it comes to confronting their own pasts.”
“They would rather keep secrets than disrupt their lives,” Janine nods. “Believe me, we’re still recovering from it.”
“I’m so glad Jackson is too old for secrets,” Serenity murmurs, then laughs at her own comment.
“The only secret he has left is how many grey hairs he has counted,” Ciara teases.
Jackson has barely a drop of grey hair, the man’s genetics are flawless, which I’m thankful for because it gives me hope for when I’m older that I’m going to look as amazing as he does.
“Stop it, you lot,” Janine grins. “Jackson ages like a fine wine.”
“Don’t I know it,” Serenity pretends to fan himself. “The man has the stamina of a twenty-year-old.”
“Ew, Serenity. I don’t need that kind of imagery.”
Serenity’s grin gets bigger. “That sofa you’re sitting on, we had a great time there this morning.”
Leaping up, I start gagging and frantically wiping my clothes as everyone bursts out laughing.
“Nope, nope, nope,” I groan, doing a little dance before finding another seat.
“Gosh, I missed this.” Ciara sighs. “It feels like forever since we were just the wild girls without kids. I love them, don’t get me wrong, but man I miss it.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m kind of glad to have a little family. It makes me feel like I achieved something after everything.”
Ciara nods, but I can see in her eyes that she’s not completely content.
“You don’t feel that way?” Serenity asks softly.
Ciara shrugs. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Danny and Mercy, and I adore Spike ... it’s just, sometimes I feel like something is missing. My entire life was always focused on Cheyenne and Spike and the drama. I wanted to go to college, I wanted to do something with myself, but I never did.”
“It’s not too late, you know,” Janine encourages. “You’re so young, why don’t you enroll and do something.”
Ciara hesitates. “I just don’t see Spike agreeing, and even if he did, I’d feel so guilty leaving the kids, even if it was just a few days a week.”
“Honey,” I say, refilling her glass of wine. “You have all of us, your kids are never going to feel the pinch of being alone. Your life matters, too.”
Shaking her head, she changes the subject. “Anyway, we’re not here to throw a pity party for me. We’re here to have a good hard bitch about our men because we’re allowed. So, Janine, it’s your turn. How are things between you and Muff?”
Janine laughs, giving Mercy a bottle as she leans back in the chair. “Surprisingly good. He’s been amazing since we sorted everything out. I’m still up and down, but mostly, I’m dealing with it. Occasionally it gets the better of me, but I just put it down to pregnancy hormones.”
“Ugh.” Serenity shakes her head. “Those are the worst.”
“They really are,” I agree.
“What about you, Addi?” Ciara asks. “Anymore sneaky truths come out about Clara? You know we’re invested.”
I tell them everything new I’ve found out since the last time we spoke, and they listen with deep focus.
“Wait, so you’re saying there is some kind of stash location in the woods and you haven’t gone hunting for it? Do I even know you?” Ciara grins, teasingly.
“Trust me, if I knew where to look, I’d probably be unable to help myself. I think it’s a good thing I don’t know, it’s keeping me out of trouble.”
“If we could get the club on board, you could find out.” Serenity purses her lips, then grins.
“Not the club,” I correct. “Cade. He’s the one holding back. Though Jackson did say he is more invested than I think, so maybe there is a chance.”
“I’d suggest sneaking in to find out what we can, but that didn’t end well last time.” Ciara giggles.