AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t want to impose.”
Arching a brow, I ask, “Because you don’t like them?”
“I liked them fine, but I don’t want to be the odd woman out.”
“How old are you?”
Xenia’s lips tighten into a line as I ask the question ladies never want to honestly answer. Despite her grouchy expression, she fesses up.
“Thirty-seven.”
“How many of those years have you been without friends?”
“Nearly fifteen.”
“Well, it seems to me like you ought to be less pissy about your options. Just settle for those ladies and be their friend.”
Xenia considers sitting up and giving me space. I see her working through how I’m not being nice, so she best give up on her crush. I guess she decides she likes where she is at because she doesn’t move.
“I’m not being pissy.”
“Look, a year ago, my club president met a chick. She was new to town like you. Messed up in the head. Nearly died. Bad ex-husband. All kinds of drama. Now, Ruin’s sister isn’t wired like Selene. Wynonna is confident and pushy and sometimes bitchy. However, she started palling around with Selene and Yazmin. Callie joined them. Not a natural fit, but they had fun. When Nomad hooked up with Landry, she and Rosemary joined the lady events. Same with Irina when Eagle claimed her. These chicks aren’t old friends. They don’t have a lot in common. But they still hang out. Stop being a lonely pill and go be their new best friend.”
Xenia rolls her eyes before grinning. “Did you help that lady at the hair salon find friends?”
“Nope. Just handed out flyers and got rid of a raccoon prowling around her property.”
Xenia narrows her eyes warily. “What did you do to that raccoon?”
“Sat down and explained the situation, so he’d move elsewhere.”
Xenia laughs. “I’m pretending that’s what really happened.”
“So, you like animals?”
“Yes. I think so. One time, my sister was in town with her kids, and they went to the zoo. I came with them and didn’t die of boredom.”
“What was your favorite animal?”
Xenia studies me and considers lying. When I cock an eyebrow, just daring her to give me some bullshit, she backs down and tells the truth.
“The turtles.”
Her choice makes me think someone fed her that answer. Except Xenia can’t lie to others with the same skill as she lies to herself. She honestly liked the turtles best.
“Well, then, our first official date will be a picnic at Turtle Cove.”
My words set off her lady joy. Man, I wish Xenia’s bright smile didn’t have so much power over me.
“I know where that is,” she says breathlessly. “I saw the sign when I was driving into town.”
“I spend a lot of time out there. When I was a kid, I was gifted a really nice tent. I decided to move away from my parents’ area. They didn’t own it, just squatted in the woods with their cult. I wanted quiet, so I set up my tent at Turtle Cove. Woke up the next day to find a whole family of those critters right outside. Felt like they were welcoming me home,” I say and then shrug. “Or it was their lame attempt at waging war against an interloper. Either way, I decided that was a good place to call home.”
Xenia slides her fingers across my forearm. “How old were you?”
“Eleven or twelve. I think I was in the sixth grade. Kourtney had started her lady cycle by then. I talked Tomcat into letting her stay at his place when she was bleeding. He was sweeter back in the day. I think he also got it in his head how he wanted a sister. So, Kourtney would bunk at Tomcat’s place while I hung out with the turtles.”
Xenia studies me. While she might be fucking clueless where her own life’s concerned, she seems to read between the lines about me.
