Page 90 of Dark Endures

I can.

Maybe I could host the next spinsters meeting. All the treats will have to come from Fiona’s place. But that wouldtotally get them to stop worrying about me. Inviting Dahlia over for a movie or wedding talk would be a great trial run. “Thank you. I think I’ll do just that.”

“Good.” He pats my leg and stands up. “I need to get changed for my dinner plans. Why don’t you call her and see if she can come over?”

As soon as he walks out of the room, I dial Dahlia.

She answers on the second ring, “Hey.”

“Hi. So, this might sound odd, but would you like to come over and talk wedding stuff while watching a cheesy romcom.”

“I’d love that!!!! It sounds like so much fun. Tell me when and I’ll be there.”

And now I’m smiling. What a great idea. “How would an hour sound? We can order a pizza and I’ll grab some junk food for us to munch on.”

“No, you’re not invited,” she whispers in the background, probably to Maverick. “It’s a girls’ night. Hence, no boys allowed."

That man is so smitten.

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

The night is looking up.

***

There are like fifteen bridal magazines mixed among the junk food on the coffee table.

“How do people pick colors like this for a wedding?” Dahlia moves the magazine over that she’s looking at. “That color looks like vomit.” She shudders.

“Beyond me. But it seems to go with that dress.” At least I think it’s supposed to be a dress. It’s this Avant-Garde thing that’s just shapes and textures. You can barely tell there’s a woman under there.

She tips her head to the side. “It kind of does.”

We burst out laughing as the door opens.

Oh, no. Adonis is back.

What time is it?

After ten! We’ve been hanging out for hours.

“You two look like you’re having fun.” He stops at the door and smiles at us.

We actually are. It would be rude not to invite him to join us. “I was just going to refill the popcorn. Would you like a drink?”

“Sure.” He takes off his coat and hangs it in the closet by the door.

Wonder if I could put mine there too? That looks so convenient. “Be right back.”

I shove another bag in the microwave while I grab one of his beers from the fridge. They’re absolutely gross, watered-down beers, but to each his own.

The smell of popcorn is addictive.

We’re going to have to do this way more often. Maybe I’ll ask Leonie to come over one night. She lives in Urbium. But she’s always working like me. It’s going to make syncing our schedules impossible.

The microwave beeps and I pull out the bag, carefully avoiding being burnt by the steam.

“I’m bac—”

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