Page 38 of Ivy

Tonight, we are having a girl’s night out. Addy, Cassie, Penny, and Lauren, who is Penny’s friend, are all hitting a nightclub in the city center, called ‘Chaos’. Addy and Cassie know the bouncer there, so we’re getting in for free. It took a lot of convincing for Luke to let me go; he was worried Tim would show his face again. Addy told him that Tim would have to get through her and Lauren to get to me. Most men are scared of Lauren, because she can handle herself.

I add another layer of mascara, then step back to survey my makeup. I went with dark and sultry tonight. Even though I won't be looking at other men, I want to feel sexy and strong. It doesn’t take much for women to feel nice. All they need is that special pair of shoes that makes them feel tall and sexy, or the top that shows that little bit extra skin, or even the way their hair and makeup is done. We don’t need much, even though men say we are high-maintenance.

I adjust my thigh-high suede boots and walk downstairs with my black clutch bag in my hand. I get to the bottom of the stairs and see the girls standing in the kitchen with their men. My two guys are standing together, well, Carter is sitting on the kitchen worktop. I look at the girls’ outfits and smile at how sexy, beautiful, and strong they are. I wanna be like them. I want to be strong for Carter and Luke—and myself.

I look down at my black, long-sleeved, sequined dress and then back to the girls. We are looking fierce tonight. Addy is in a black see-through top and a black, mid-thigh leather skirt and ankle boots. I bet Dex is going out of his mind over her outfit. Cassie is in black skinny jeans with rips in the right places, with chunky ankle boots and a grey t-shirt tucked in with a rip across the chest, showing off her boobs.

Penny and Lauren are looking quite classy. Penny has on a simple blue dress with wrap around her body, and pretty black heels. Lauren is in a black pleated halter dress, which makes her curves look amazing.

“Fucking kill me now,” Luke says, and turns around to bang his head on the cupboard behind him. Carter laughs and smiles at me.

“You look beautiful, Mum. Luke is being silly because he knows all the boys will be looking at you all tonight. And Unlce Dex said that he will need to chop someone's balls off tonight if they try to get in Aunt Addy’s knickers,” my son says with an air of innocence about him. The girls burst out laughing, and Jay chokes on his drink. Luke looks shocked but is smiling at my son. Dex leans in and high-fives Carter.

“What he said.” My brother shrugs. I step over to Carter and kiss his cheek.

“No one is doing anything tonight, okay?” I say to him.

“Umm, you may be doing nothing, but I’m drinking my weight in cocktails tonight,” Lauren tells the room.

“Oh, you know what I mean, you pleb.”

“Let’s go ladies. I need a drink. I’m kid free, so I need to get drunk and have wild monkey sex with the hubs when I get home.” Lauren picks up her bag and walks out of the kitchen.

“What she said,” Penny says. She kisses Liam, and he groans when she pulls away.

“Bambi, do not live up to your name tonight, please. I want you conscious when you come home, yeah?”

“Yeah, honey.” She blows him a kiss and leaves the room, following Lauren.

“Dude, I’m out. Take care of my girl and be naked when I get home. Laters,” Addy says, practically bouncing on the spot before she leans in and kisses Dex breathless.

“Baby,” he warns her.

“Oh, hush, you. No one is touching this.” She waves towards her stunning body. “Well, maybe you later. Love you.” Then Addy is gone too. Dex shakes his head but smirks at the boys.

“Don’t say a word. You’re my brothers, so shush.” Dex winks at me and I step up to Luke and watch Cassie step in front of Jay.

“I’ll be good, and then we can be bad together later, Cap.” She calls him ‘Cap’ because Addy nicknamed him ‘Captain Awesome’. Dex is ‘Captain Twat’ and Luke... he still hasn’t had his ‘Captain Cocky’ mug made’

“You can be bad with me anytime, Kitten. Just remember who this belongs to,” he says, looking her body up and down.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Love you. Just to give you a heads up, have you seen the film ‘Bad Moms’?” The boys nod. “Yeah, we’ll be like that tonight. They’re all lying bitches when they say we’re going to be good, because, lads, we aren’t.” She giggles and sprints from the room. I stare after her, shocked she just ran in those bloody heels. I would fall and break my neck.

I turn to the boys and see they are all looking at me. I offer them a sweet smile and step closer to my beast. I wrap my arms around his trim waist and sink into him, soaking up his heat before I step out into the cold night.

“Your boy won’t protect you from us, little sister. What are the girls up to tonight?” I shake my head at Jay.

“Nothing, just going out and having a drink—or five—and having a good time. Nothing else has been said to me. I promise.” The boys don’t look like they believe me.

“Well, on that note, I’m going to join the girls out in the taxi and get this night started.” I kiss Carter on the cheek. “Be good for Luke, okay.”

“I will, Mum. Have fun.” He gives me a toothy grin. He has amazed me with how he has coped with everything he’s to deal with in his short years. I thought it would take time for him to warm up to the guys, but he took each day in his stride and became a smiling boy again.

God, I love this kid.

I look up at Beast and smile at him. He leans in and kisses me, dipping his tongue into my mouth. I can taste the beer he had while waiting for me to get ready.

“Be a good little peach for me, yeah, baby? And be careful. You see anything or anyone you aren’t comfortable with, you text, okay.”

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