Chapter 6

“Clearly we’re interrupting something.” Trinity’s head hung around the corner of the door inside, Ocean right behind her. My friend took in the way Cade had me pressed against the railing, and her eyes glowed with what looked like victory.

I flushed with heat.

It wasn’t what she thought.

Sure, he kissed me.

Yes, his hands on me made me feel things I hadn’t felt ever.

And yes, the way he offered their help made me want to bask in that warmth.

But it wasn’t what they thought.

Even though I kissed him back.

Cade’s eyes left mine, turning to see my friends, and he huffed out a laugh. “Trinity. I suppose we should have made the connection sooner.”

She winced. “Not too mad, are you?”

“No.” He glanced back at me and smiled. “Probably should be, but not mad at all.”

“Good.” She marched across the veranda and grabbed my hand, pulling me away from his body. I already missed the warmth of him and the dark scent that had wrapped around me and made me feel safe when it had started to feel impossible. “We have to get Isolde ready now. But don’t worry, you’ll get her back later.”

A flicker of a smile played on his lips. “We’ll make sure to stay out of your way.”

Trinity towed me inside the house and into the bedroom I hadn’t set foot in yet. The other guys were in the living room area, watching with amusement as I was captured.

“So they know it was you.”

“Luckily they don’t seem too upset,” Trinity said, closing the door behind Ocean. “I’m more interested in why you were tangled up with one of them when you said there was no way you were having sex with them.”

I reached out and pulled Ocean into a hug. She shook with silent laughter. “She’s been like this all day.”

“She’s like this all the time.”

Trinity put her hands on her hips. “Excuse me, I’m standing right here.”

Hugging her too, I finally found my suitcase among the group of them and pulled it over to the walk-in closet. I ignored the bed. That was a bridge I would cross when I got to it.

“And I’m not sure what you saw, Rin. But I wasn’t being fucked on the veranda. No one’s going to believe we’re together if they never touch me.”

“Yeah, but no one was watching you.”

“You two walked in, didn’t you?”

Ocean giggled. “Yeah, but we know the secret.”

I flipped the suitcase over on the ground and started pulling things out and putting them away. I wasn’t going to live out of a suitcase for three full weeks. Besides, if I was moving back here, it’s not like I would have to shove it all back into the case.

They both grabbed things too, getting my suitcase unpacked in minutes. My makeup put on the vanity in the closet, and the dresses hung up.

Trinity looked at the dresses. “Which one are you wearing tonight?”

I sat down at the vanity and pointed to the black dress on the hanger. “That one.”

“No.”

“What?”

“Back me up, O. She can’t wear that.”

Turning, I looked between my friends. “What’s wrong with that dress?”

Ocean smiled. “Nothing. It’s pretty.”

“But?”

“But,” she winced. “It’s not exciting.”

“I’m not looking for excitement. I’m looking to fly under the radar.”

Trinity rolled her eyes. “If you actually wanted to fly under the radar, you wouldn’t have shown up with a pack that looks like sex on a stick. Everyone’s going to be looking at you anyway, so you can’t walk in there looking like you’re attending your own funeral.”

“Rin,” I choked on a laugh. “It won’t look like that.”

“You’re right. It won’t. Because I thought this might happen.” She strode out of the room without a backward glance, leaving Ocean and I to stare at each other.

“What did she do?”

Ocean laughed and shook her head. “I honestly have no idea.”

My friends were already dressed. Ocean wore a flowy dress in a color that reflected her name, covered with a dark cardigan. She looked pretty, but I recognized when she tried to cover herself up.

While my family was supportive, Ocean’s wasn’t. She’d never been good enough for them in any way. Interests, personality, body. Anything. So while she was fucking gorgeous, her curves and size made her uncomfortable. Rin and I tried to get her into things which would show her off, but there was only so much we could do.

“How are you?”

“I’m fine. I have a really beautiful hybrid I’m working on. It should bloom in a few days. I can’t wait to see how it turned out. But I’m more worried about you right now.”

Taking a deep breath, I met my own eyes in the mirror. “I’ll be all right.”

Twenty minutes ago, I might not have said the same. Cade’s insistence they were here to take care of me meant more than he could know. Now the thought of walking into the ballroom and seeing Beau with Angela on his arm felt slightly less horrifying.

Slightly.

“I knew I needed to be prepared.” Trinity swept in with a slinky, silky, pile of emerald green fabric draped over her arm.

She held it up, showing the simple but stunning dress. Asymmetrical hem that would show off more than a little leg, spaghetti straps, and a gently cowled neckline. It was gorgeous. It was also completely unlined, and there was no way I could wear the bras I had with me.

And like hell was I going braless around these five men. I was only so strong, and whatever my commitment to resistance, I didn’t need my nipples showing in front of Beau.

“I don’t have underwear for that dress, Rin.”

“Do you need it?”

“You really want me possibly sporting headlights at my sister’s party? In front of my ex?”

She sighed like I was ruining her fun. “I’d rather you sport headlights for the five servings of fucking edible in the living room right now. But fine. I’ll take care of that, too.”

“I’m not borrowing your bra.”

Rin shook her head. “You won’t have to. I’ll get one delivered.”

Ocean covered her mouth to hide her laughter, but her eyes sparkled. She might be quieter, but my friend was fully on board.

“You can’t just have underwear delivered like a pizza.”

Trinity scoffed. “Fucking watch me.”

“Are you having a blood sugar high?” I asked. “A low?”

All that earned me was a glare.

In seconds, Trinity swiped on her phone, typed a few things, and showed me the order confirmation for a black strapless bra from one of the luxury boutiques in town. I rolled my eyes. “And I really don’t need a bra that costs that much.”

“We both know you can afford it, Iz. But this one is my treat.”

Swallowing, I looked away and started unpacking my makeup. I did just fine. My parents had a trust for me, but it wasn’t something I could access until I turned thirty-five. I was far from rich, and far from ordering lingerie that cost a full shift’s tips.

They made the same rule for my sister. My parents didn’t want us to rely on it, so they made sure to keep it out of reach past the point when we were supposed to be able to fend for ourselves. And I could. I was.

Bartending—especially when I showed more skin—paid my bills, but I was no longer rolling in cash. And no one really knew about it, either. Which was why my very expensive purchase sitting outside ready to escort me was a bad idea.

My family would help me if they knew. I hadn’t told them. A year ago I wouldn’t have said I was a prideful person, but being dumped and leaving my job only to find myself living in a building my mother would consider condemned and bartending six days a week to make ends meet changed that.

I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the change in my circumstances myself, let alone face the horror, pity, and charity of my family. That was another thing I wanted to do out here. Interviews. Surely I could get an interview somewhere that wasn’t Tate Marketing.

If Beau hadn’t poisoned the well with everyone who could possibly use a graphic designer.

“Isolde?”

I startled, meeting Ocean’s eyes in the vanity mirror. “Yeah?”

She smiled faintly. “You’ve been staring at your blush like it murdered someone for about three minutes.”

“Well, you know how blush can be. Have to keep an eye on it.”

My friends laughed, and then an awkward quiet settled over us. I finally put the blush down. It hadn’t hurt anyone.

Ocean sat on the comfy bench on the other side of the closet. The place was big enough to be its own boutique, it was a good thing it had seating. “Are you really okay, Iz?

“I’ll be fine.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Pressing my lips together so hard they disappeared, I looked anywhere but at her. Here, in person, it was harder to avoid the heart of these questions.

“No,” I finally said. “Not really. But it doesn’t matter. This is all about Ellie. I can get through it and figure my shit out later.”

Stepping up behind me, Trinity put her hands on my shoulders. “You know we love you, right? We’re going to make sure you’re okay, no matter what.”

“I know.”

Her phone chimed. “Oh, good. Ronnie is here. And the bra delivery will be here in a few.”

“It’s been like ten minutes.”

“It’s a bra,” she called over her shoulder on her way to the door. “Not like they have to spend time browsing.”

I shook my head, unable to contain my laughter.

Ocean smirked, finally looking more relaxed. “Regretting everything yet?”

“Oh, you have no idea.” The giggles wouldn’t stop now that I’d let them out. “Who the fuck is Ronnie?”