Page 50 of Bourbon and Secrets

I snort a laugh. “Thanks, but I chose to stay at the house. She wasn’t happy to see me, but no matter how mad she is at me, someone beat the shit out of my sister, and I’m not about to lether live in that place alone until I know it’s not going to happen again.”

Hadley sizes me up. “You’re kind of scary, Faye.” She points her finger at me, dragging it up and down like she’s drawing mid-air. “You look like...well, you’re ridiculously beautiful and in this very delectable package, but I feel like you’d throw down if you needed to.”

She’s not wrong.

Laney chimes in, “She has a way with compliments, doesn’t she?”

“Best one I’ve gotten in a long time,” I say, smiling into my glass.

“It’s official. You are the coolest person I know, and I’m in love with you,” Hadley laughs out.

Laney shouts, “Hey, what about me?”

“Always and forever, babes. But, c’mon, a burlesque dancer?! She’s sexier than the Cher movie with one-third of the ultimate trifecta, and she’s fun.” Hadley looks at me and squeezes my forearm when she says, “Faye, you’re a lot of fun.”

I furrow my brow. “Ultimate trifecta?”

Laney rolls her eyes. “Christina Aguilera was in that movie. And the trifecta, according to Hadley, is Britney, Christina, Pink.”

“Obviously,” I say without missing a beat.

Hadley raises her arms with sarcasm. “See!”

I can’t help but laugh with Laney.

And for a few minutes tonight, I forget what brought me here and what I still need to accomplish. Tonight is the first time in a long time that I feel good surrounded by people who look an awful lot like new friends. My phone buzzes.

FOXX

I need to talk to you.

The residual humor from my conversation with the girls bleeds over with my response.

FAYE

Sounds serious.

I try to school my features, but I don’t do it in time because Laney asks, “Who’s got you smiling like that, Faye?”

“It’s nothing like that—” I say, watching the bubbles bounce, awaiting what kind of response I’ll get.

FOXX

Open the door.

Is he at my house?

But it’s Hadley who asks, “Doesnothinghappen to have glasses and a smirk you just want to slap off sometimes?”

FAYE

Can’t. Sorry. Not home.

I smile at her words, but follow it up with, “Okay, where did we leave off?”

Putting my phone ondo not disturb, I slide it into my pocket. I’ll deal with him later.

Hadley claps her hands. “Alright. Deflecting. I like it. We’ll circle back. How do we feel about an espresso martini, maybe with a pistachio liquor shooter?” she asks, breaking out the shaker.

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