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Chapter Twenty-Two
Remi grabbed her trayof beer-battered onion rings and the dips to go along with them before grabbing her keys. It irritated her that she had to lock her door. Although the lockdown was needed, having to deal with locking her door when she was running to Winnie’s for the evening was ridiculous. Once they got past this crisis, they all needed to seriously look at upgrading their security procedures and how to keep everyone safe.
Walking over to Winnie’s, she noticed Regina’s truck and a figure sitting on the front porch. Holding the tray with one hand, she pulled her beretta out, holding it by her side. Keeping armed while on the compound was just another change. She always had one close at hand, but she and her dad had demanded everyone carry. No exceptions.
The figure stayed seated but held up his hands. “It’s me, Remington. I’m Regina’s protection tonight.”
She nodded at one of the prospects from Texas. She recognized him from the pictures Sarah had distributed to them. No one was tricking them again.
She pushed the door open and relaxed her shoulders. Her sisters had their theme song fromFriendsplaying. No matter what, she knew her sisters would always be there for her. They and Regina were gathered around Winnie’s kitchen island. Big enough to seat eight, she wondered if it would collapse at the amount of food on it. It seemed everyone had the same idea she had about needing comfort food tonight.
She laid down her offering to tonight’s festivities and gave Winnie a hug. Then, she hugged each of the women who made life bearable until she got to Regina. She held in her emotions for a second but then let them go. She’d cried a little bit with War, but she’d been shoving each emotion down trying to be the leader they needed her to be.
Regina’s arms wrapped around her. One hand patted her shoulder. “It’s about time you let loose, girl. I know I’ve cried more worried about the what ifs this last week than I did when War and Roam were overseas.”
She stayed in Regina’s arms for a minute, just letting her sisters’ conversations drift around her. She’d been scared for herself, but she’d never have forgiven herself if they’d lost Winnie. She pulled away, taking the seat beside Regina.
“Better?” Winnie questioned.
“Yes.”
“You know it wasn’t your fault,” Sarah stated, patting her shoulder.
“Actually, it was her fault you all survived. If she, Dad and Bear hadn’t decided to expand the tunnels, we would have lost you both.” Jesse’s no-nonsense voice and calm face helped remind her she had done something right.
“Now that the crying is done, I want to know about War. Like everything. And if it’s parts Regina shouldn’t hear, just tell her to cover her ears. Is he everything you dreamed of? Is he pierced? Does he have tattoos hidden under those thigh-hugging jeans?” Beth peppered the questions, not waiting for Remi to answer.
“Yes. Yes, and there’s a story there. And yes, but I’m so scared of what’s ahead that I don’t know how I feel about it.”
“Okay, I’m going to have to know the story about the piercing,” Sarah requested.
“Well, remember when we lost to Roam, and we let him pierce us?”
Her sisters all nodded. They had all gotten piercings except for Sarah who hadn’t played because she had a migraine.
“I knew he was cheating!” Beth yelled.
Remi nodded, watching her sisters all clue in that Roam had cheated.
“I’m not telling you all where War is pierced but I will say the twins had to get intimately acquainted for it to happen.”
Regina shook her head, covering her face. “I really wish I would have brought ear plugs for that.”
