AllFreeNovel
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Staring at myself in the mirror, I stand tall, straightening my shoulders. “You got this, Winter. Go have fun with your friends.”
A deep red smile curls my lips as I saunter back to my closet to pick out another outfit. One that makes me feel like the goddess I am.
* * *
One or allof the Fearless Four played their cards right, because the Uber that Keith, Dottie, and Sondra picked me up in was wrapped in flashing LED lights and bumping techno music.
The driver’s name was Ajmal, and he was a goddamn riot. His smile showedallhis teeth, and the positive energy flowing from that man was breathtaking. I’ve never laughed so much in an Uber before in my life. It was a sign that tonight would be amazing and there was nothing to worry about. Cheers to new beginnings!
Climbing from the back of Ajmal’s luxury SUV, my dress opens up the side, showing leg up to my waist. It might be a littleformalfor karaoke, but fuck it. Like a phoenix rising, am I right?
We find a table near the stage so we can enjoy the show as thoroughly as possible. I hate to say it—because honestly it makes us sound like a bunch of assholes, and evenmorehonestly… we probably are—but the commentary we share on karaoke night brings tears to my eyes. Which is probably why my friends chose this time-old excursion as my coming-back-out party.
Minutes after settling in, a server delivers a bottle of champagne to our table in a bucket of ice with four champagne glasses and four waters.
“Oh, my god, you guys went all out tonight,” I say, lifting a piece of ice from the bucket and popping it into my mouth.
Dottie, Keith, and Sondra share knowing smiles, which sparks my curiosity.These bitches are planning something…
“What song are you going to sing tonight, Winter?” Sondra asks with a smirk.
“I don’t know. Any suggestions?”
“‘Reunited’by Peaches and Herb.” Dottie says a little too quickly.
Sondra arches an eyebrow. “‘Let’s Stay Together’ by Al Green.”
“‘Never Really Over’ by Katy Perry,” Keith adds, making Sondra and Dottie laugh.
My eyes narrow on my friends. “What are you hussies up to?” I ask suspiciously.
“I’m going to get some shots.” Dottie smiles, ignoring my question. “Tequila?”
“Whitetequila,” Keith says, and Sondra and I nod in agreement.
“Ah, the top shelf shit. Got it.” Dottie pops up from her seat and bops toward the bar.
Whatever they’re up to, I don’t care, because my friends are happy. They’re happy that I’m happy. This is nice. I’ve been so hung up on how hurt I am over Aleck, I forgot to remember all the ways my life is amazing. Having not one, butthreebest friends who would stop at nothing to pull me from the pits iseverything.
Sasha, the karaoke DJ, steps onto the stage, making a few people from the crowd whistle.
“Phew!” she blows into the microphone theatrically, and saunters across the stage in her black combat boots covered in spikes. “Thank god it’s Friday!”
The crowd cheers and whistles. Dottie slides into her seat and sets four shots in the center of the table, then slides a shot in front of each of us.
“To friends…” she says, holding her shot in the air.
“Tofamily,” Keith adds.
“And to thatdress,” Sondra says, nodding at me, making us all chuckle.
We tap our shots on the table before throwing them back into our throats, just as the melody of “Please Don’t Go” by Boyz II Men starts playing in the background, making me almost choke.
“What’s wrong?” Sondra nudges Dottie with her elbow, a gesture I ignore.
I shake my head, a reminiscing smile curling my lips. “Nothing,” I murmur. I don’t want to tell them Aleck loves Boyz II Men or that, for reasons beyond me, I love them now too.
“Okay, so, remember Simon Ripples?” Dottie asks.
