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Chapter 1
Chastity
Twin Pines, Colorado
I wave at Sandra behind the counter as I enter the coffee shop and nod when she mouths, “Usual?”
It’s been a long day, but what day isn’t? My job working with children with additional needs is wonderful, rewarding, and exhausting. I love “my” kids, but the demands of the job are varied. It doesn’t pay well, but it’s the job of my heart. I love kids and want half a dozen one day. Okay, maybe not six because I’m not sure my vagina could handle it, but three, for sure.
Grabbing my usual seat in the corner at the back, I pull out my phone. Ireland messaged our group chat on my way to work this morning, announcing that her sister, Shelby, had some exciting news for us all. When you read “exciting” and “news” in the same sentence, you instantly think “baby.” Or at least, I did. Not that I know Shelby well, so I have no idea if she has a boyfriend or regular man in her life. Maybe it’s not a baby. Maybe she’s moving to the Andes to milk mountain goats.
But I jest. Because we’re all hoping it’s the news we’ve been waiting ten years to hear. And by “we,” I mean our group of diehard Soul Obsession fans. So what if the boy band that catapulted to fame when our teenage hormones were on overdrive split up ten years ago? It hasn’t stopped us from fangirling over them and hoping for news of a reunion.
In fact, my love of all things Soul Obsession is how I met the other seven girls—on a social media platform dedicated to all things Soul Obsession. Since then, we’ve formed friendships and talk regularly in our chat group and online. Amazing how you can make firm friendships with a bunch of girls you’ve never met, but that’s what happened with us.
I thank Sandra with a smile as she places my blueberry muffin and skinny decaf latte in front of me. It’s the only skinny thing about me. With my wide hips, wobbly belly, red hair, and freckles, I look exactly what I am—a nerdy bookworm with a demanding job and no social life. I’ve been told my green eyes are striking, but I have no illusions about myself. I’ve been overweight my whole life because I love carbs too damned much.
I was the girl who never had a date for prom. Hell, I was the girl who never had a date in high school, period. And the dates I’ve been on since have been disastrous, to say the least.
One guy spent two hours telling me all the things he’d learned while in prison—the most important of which was never to eat something that looks like a raisin.
Another guy took me to a movie. Turned out it was a porno in 3D. Nothing like watching spunk shoot at you from the screen while wearing cardboard glasses.
Oh, and let’s not forget the guy from Tinder who drove me to his grandparents' house after the date and woke them up to introduce me. Poor grandad didn’t even have time to put his teeth in.
But apart from that, most guys seem to want a slender supermodel with filler lips and fake tits. I’m happy to say that nothing about me is fake. Not my DD boobs or my chunky butt. Thank goodness for my parents, who instilled in me a firm sense of self-worth: no matter my size, God love ‘em. I miss them since they moved from Denver to Omaha, but we always get together for the holidays.
Sipping my latte, I pull up the chat on my phone to see Shelby has already messaged the group with the link for the virtual chat room. I pop in my earbuds, knowing that our conversations are rarely fit for public consumption, and hit the link.
Eight windows, including my own, pop up on the screen one by one, each framing a friend miles away.
Shelby is front and center, her huge grin lighting up the screen. “Hey, ladies! The Soul Obsession reunion tour is a go.”
Daisy squeals. “Oh, my gosh, I can't believe it's finally happening! I've been waiting for this day since, well, forever!”
Ireland, Shelby’s sister, adds her shriek of excitement to the mix, begging Shelby to tell her she can go too. “Please say you guys are going, and I get to come,” she pleads.
“I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years since they broke up,” Resa exclaims. “Daisy, you look the same as when we were teenagers.”
I snort. “Have you been cryogenically frozen, Daisy?”
Daisy laughs. “I moisturize. But you're one to talk, Chastity. What's your secret?
“Rainwater and sheep's milk.” I grin. “Works every time.”
“You look amazing,” Dani says, making me flush.
God, I love these girls, but I’m the closest to Dani.
“So, about the reunion,” Dani continues. “I have some news. Remember my grouchy neighbor? Turns out he’s Jax… Bad Boy Jax!”
Luna’s eyes widen. “How didn’t you know? Oh, no, are they all old and bald now?”
Dani shrugs. “I don't know. The beard made him look different. But there’s more. I'll be seeing you guys because we’re kinda getting married!”
I almost choke as I sip my latte. “You’re marrying hunky, bad boy Jax Porter?” Dani and I talk all the time. How did I not know this?
“Long story. It’s not how it sounds,” Dani says hastily. “I’ll explain when I see you guys.”
