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Alone, I dropped down onto the couch, taking a deep breath, trying to remind myself of all the reasons why it was a bad idea to go down that hall, shrug out of my clothes, and join her in the shower.
Really, I could only come up with one solid reason.
Huck.
I suddenly felt apologetic to all the guys my sisters maybe wanted to date who refused to do so because of me.
"Hey West," she called a few moments later as I scrolled through some of the responses Reign had to my email earlier.
"Yeah, babe?"
"Aside from buying your sisters period products, have you ever helped them pick out outfits?"
"I'd made suggestions not to wear certain outfits. Those suggestions were always ignored, of course."
"Of course," she agreed. "Well, I am open to some feedback," she said, voice coming closer, making me turn to see her walking down the hallway in nothing but a towel, an outfit in each hand. "Romper or dress?"
"How drunk you planning on getting tonight?"
"What? What does that have to do with anything?"
"If you are going to get dance-on-the-counter, pass-out-on-the-couch drunk, a dress probably isn't your best choice. The hem rides up," I explained to her blank look.
"That is some sound logic. But I don't plan on getting drunk. And rompers make bathroom trips a chore."
"Why are you getting dressed up if it is just a hangout thing tonight?"
"I wear scrubs all day at work. I like an excuse to dress up on occasion. Oh, can you get that? It's probably Ayanna. She comes early to fix the food I have already prepared. I'd be insulted if she wasn't always right."
With that, she moved down the hallway.
"Oh, you finally gave in," Ayanna said by way of greeting, pushing past me in a floor-length pink dress, bags in her hands.
"Gave in," I repeated.
"Where are your manners?" she asked, jerking her chin toward the hall where more bags were situated. "But, yes, gave in. It took you a long time. It was driving Gus insane. It is not like her to have a crush on anyone."
"A crush?" I asked as I watched her move around the kitchen with practiced precision.
"Yeah, well, our girl is a fan of fun and light and casual. She's been known to be into someone before. For all of five or six hours. But she was practically chasing you around like a heartsick teenager. I don't think I need to tell you how unusual that was. So I am glad you finally gave in, and put her out of her misery."
"Ayanna, I was here to bring a keg."
"Oh, she said, turning to me, pressing her lips together. "Whoops," she added, not looking apologetic at all. "This spinach is sliced too small," she said, clucking her tongue as she mixed it.
"I tried to tell him that!" Auggie said, appearing at my side, drawing my focus over. The dress, yeah, it was a good decision.
Deep blue, tight, short, low cut. It left next to nothing up to the imagination.
I damn sure wasn't complaining.
"Guess we can't complain too much," Ayanna said, sticking a spoon into the onion dip, giving it a taste. "At least he helped. Remember when you were living back at home? Those assholes would dare to make demands then disappear so they didn't have to help? Then if you complained, they'd say they could have just ordered something in. While scraping the bottom of their plates. Small spinach isn't a big deal," she added, shaking some dill into the dip. "You're in for a treat. Gus parties are some of the best parties in the area. Do you need to get that?" she asked, making me realize my phone was ringing. I'd been too busy watching the way the hem of Auggie's skirt slipped up when she reached across the counter to slip a Dorito into a warm cheesy dip.
Finding Reign's name on the screen, I realized I did.
"What's up?" I asked as I moved into the hall.
"Just had church," he said, making me momentarily miss my crew. It was strange how I had spent so much of my career completely alone. And happy about it. Then just a week or so away, and I felt like I was missing out when they did something without me.
"Yeah? How'd that go?" I asked, trying to keep the eagerness out of my tone.
The truth was, I wanted this club to happen. I liked this crew. I was intrigued by the idea of having a hand in starting a new chapter. In having this place to visit during the long, cold Jersey winters.
"Between what you've had to say, and what Chris has dug up, everyone seems pretty comfortable with the crew. Enough to say moving forward is a good idea. If they can secure the market there, we will know they have a chance at holding it. If they can't then, well, we will know it isn't going to happen. This chapter will need to stand on its own. Like we do. Some exceptions could be made for some new, big threat, but as a whole, we handle Navesink Bank, they handle that area."
