Page 60 of Unbidden

“Mommy, can I invite Candice and Betty over for a slumber party?” nine-year-old me asks.

“Sure, how about for this Saturday? I’ll make popcorn and pick up your favorite snacks. You can pick a couple of movies. How does that sound?”

“Perfect! Thank you so much, Mommy. I love you.”

“I love you forever, bug.”

I didn’t realize it back then, but my Mom took two extra shifts to be able to afford that night. She always did things like that for me.

I blink back tears before turning to Tinsley. “I would love to.”

“Great. Reed, you’ll get rid of everyone else, right?”

I jump when I realize Reed’s been standing behind us the whole time.

“You should say goodbye, Tins. It’s the polite thing to do,” he tells her.

“Gosh, you sound so much like Mother sometimes. You guys can go hang out in my room while I help get rid of stragglers.”

Tinsley leaves with Reed following her. He looks over his shoulder at me right before disappearing through the door.

“Come on.” Victoria leads me up the stairs and back down the hall I was in earlier. Once we’re in Tinsley’s room, V closes the door and whispers to me, “What the hell, S? He can’t keep his eyes off you. Don’t think I didn’t see him staring at you when we came in.”

I shrug. “I can’t help if he has a staring problem.”

She shakes her head. “You’re crazy. Let’s raid Tinsley’s stuff for something to sleep in.”

After fifteen minutes, Tinsley finally comes back into the room. Victoria has been scrolling through social media while giving me commentary on every post she reads.

“They’re all gone. Well, except for one particularly unlucky lady in bed with Keaton,” she announces before going to her vanity to take off her jewelry.

“I’m sure she feels very lucky right now.” I wiggle my eyebrows for effect.

“Gross. That’s my brother.”

We all burst out laughing.

“So, are you really okay, S?” Tinsley undresses before putting on her own pj’s.

“I’m fine. Sorry for running out on you. Your brother can be an asshole sometimes, and it got to me.”

She comes to sit next to me, grabbing my hand. “Don’t apologize. They can be intense sometimes, Reed especially. Hell, they treat me like I’m still five years old most of the time. I thought Reed was going to tear Terry’s face off for coming near me.”

“Intense is a great word to describe Reed,” Victoria interjects. “Keaton is more playful.”

“He’s a playboy, so I can see that,” I muse.

Tinsley rolls her eyes. “He can be just as intense. Trust me.”

“We’ll take your word for it.” Victoria moves to stand up. “I’m restless. What do you guys want to do?”

I shrug as Tinsley stands up.

“Let’s play truth or dare.” She grins.

“Another game? Because the last one worked out so well for me.” I groan.

Tinsley walks over to the bottle of liquor she hid earlier before lining up a set of shots for us.

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