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And the other part of her thought that part was nuts.
Hmm.
“He’s going to spank you?” Carlie asked.
“Yes.”
Josie clapped her hands. “That’s so awesome! I’m so happy for you.”
They all stared at her.
“What?” she asked. “Hannah likes being spanked. Right?”
“I liked being spanked for fun. At the club. Before everything happened.”
“And now?” Melody asked.
“I’m not sure how I’ll react,” she admitted. “What if I get scared? What if I don’t like it? What if Steven took that from me, too?”
She rubbed at her chest, feeling it tighten.
“You can’t let him win,” Melody told her. She grabbed Hannah’s hands in hers, pulling them away from her chest. “You have to show that fucker that he can’t win. That he hasn’t beaten you. That you’re strong. And if anyone can help you get through any fears you have, I bet it’s Raid.”
“You’re right. And I know he won’t hurt me. He’d never harm me.”
“Of course he wouldn’t,” Josie said. “And if he ever did, I also have Mace.” She dug around in her handbag and brought out a bright-pink canister.
The three of them took a big step back from her.
“It’s all right, the lid is on. See?” She pulled the lid off.
“You guys, I need help. He’s taking me on a date. Raid Malone is taking me on a date. What am I going to do? What should I wear?”
“Right, we’ve all got the day off,” Carlie said. “We’re all going back to our houses to find things you might wear or need. We’ll meet you at your place after work with food and booze.”
“Right.” She stared around at them. “You guys are the best friends I could ever wish for.”
“Even though one of us wanted to stun gun you?” Melody asked dryly.
“Yep. Even then.”
23
Hannah stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, staring at herself.
It was her. And yet it wasn’t.
It was a melding of old-Hannah and new-Hannah. No more baggy, dark clothing. She was wearing a pale pink dress that suited her coloring far better. It was long and puffy at the bottom, then cinched in at the waist. It had three-quarter sleeves with a V-neck.
A bit big for her, but it would have fit her perfectly before she’d lost so much weight.
There was one thing she knew for certain, though. This dress didn’t belong in any of her friends’ wardrobes. They’d turned up this afternoon with champagne, orange juice, cheese, and crackers.
And dresses and shoes and accessories.
It had been overwhelming and shocking.
But she also knew that they’d gone out and bought all this stuff. For her. Even if they were trying to pretend it was stuff they’d just had lying around.
She swirled around.
“Well? What do you think?” Melody asked, impatient as always.
“I think she rocks it,” Carlie said.
“You’re going to make him cream his pants,” Josie added.
“Ew, Josie!” Carlie cried.
“What?” Josie asked.
“You totally are,” Melody agreed.
“Thanks? I think.” She tugged at the dress. “I feel a little . . . exposed.”
The last thing she wanted was to draw any attention to herself.
Melody walked up behind her and put her arms slowly around Hannah’s waist. She knew that the other woman was being careful not to scare her. That she might even be worried about Hannah rejecting her.
“You look beautiful, Hannah. You always have. You always will. You’re the best person we know. Our best friend. You’re kind and caring and funny. We love you so much.”
It was almost too much coming from Mel, who would generally rather poke a finger in her eye than admit to feeling something soft and mushy.
Hannah sniffled.
“Uh-uh, don’t muck up my make-up,” Josie warned. “No crying.”
“That’s what Raid would say. He doesn’t like me crying.”
“Aww,” Carlie said. “That’s so sweet.”
“Why were you crying around him? Have you cried more than once? What did he do?” Melody asked fiercely.
She turned and took Melody’s hands in hers. “Nothing. I’m just . . . I’m a bit of a mess.”
“You’re not a mess,” Josie told her. “Something bad happened and you don’t have to tell us. But you’re allowed to react the way you want.”
“But I pushed you guys away. I can’t lie, I might do it again. I just . . . I feel so stupid. I feel so exposed and used. And it hurts. Right here.” She placed her hand on her chest and they all moved in to hold her as she sobbed. “I really am sorry. I never want to lose you guys.”
“And you never will,” Melody told her, stepping back.
Josie and Carlie nodded.
“Thanks guys. And not just for the dress and shoes which I know you all bought for me, but for all of it.”
None of them appeared phased that she’d worked out that they’d bought all of this for her.
“Enough of this mushy crap,” Melody said, clapping her hands. “You look amazing and you have a sexy-as-fuck man picking you up soon. We need to fix your makeup and get out of here before your cowboy turns up.”
