Page 33 of Baja
Sage pulls out her cell phone. “Now all we need is a designated driver because I plan on getting drunk, and if I’m getting drunk, I’m taking you bitches down with me.” She puts the phone to her ear. “Hey, I’m just letting you know me and the girls are going to the club tonight and that copious amounts of alcohol will be involved. That means you’re on duty.” Sage glances around the table. “Me. JuJu, Sukie, and Alice.” Sage listens intently to who I assume is Salem on the other line, and I watch as her face turns red. She ducks her head and whispers something before hanging up. “The guys will pick us up tonight,” she informs us while firing off a text.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
Sage slides her cell back into her purse. “Yep. Just checking to see if our babysitter is free tonight.”
Juniper giggles and eyes her best friend knowingly. “Someone is getting lucky tonight.”
“Shut up, JuJu.” Sage playfully slaps Juniper on the thigh.
“Hey, I’m not knocking it. Drunk sex is the best sex.”
Suddenly, Juniper’s commentary sparks a thought, and I imagine having wild, drunk sex with Nash.
“Ohhh… it looks like my girl Alice is in agreement.”
Shocked by being called out, I find Juniper looking at me with the biggest grin. “What?”
“Girl, your face says it all. You were thinking about all the drunken, dirty things you want to do to that hunk of beef you got.”
Sukie groans and buries her face in the palms of her hands. Juniper ignores my daughter’s apparent embarrassment and continues, “Alice, you owe it to womankind everywhere to go out tonight, have fun while wearing a sexy dress, get shit-faced, then let Baja do naughty things to you all night.”
I’m at Juniper’s apartment a few hours later, preparing for the club. “Wow.” I stare in shock at my reflection in the mirror. “You can’t see my bruises at all.” Sage just put the finishing touches on my makeup, and Juniper was right, she is a master. Not only did she conceal the bruises, but the cat eye effect she did with the eyeliner made my eyes look fantastic. She kept the eyeshadow minimal but pulled off the entire look by giving me a red lip.
“You should wear makeup more often,” Sage tells me. “Not that you need it because you’re gorgeous without it, but damn, red is your color.”
I shrug. “I never had a reason to wear it.” I continue to stare at myself. “But maybe I will.”
Sukie comes up behind me, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful, Mom.”
“Thanks, baby.”
“Found it!” Juniper shouts from inside her closet, drawing everyone’s attention. Then she walks out, holding a gold scrap of material. Considering I’m the only one not dressed, I assume the shimmering dress she has displayed in front of me is what she expects me to wear.
“You’re not serious?” I take the dress from her and hold it out.
“Hell yeah, I’m serious. Now go put it on.” Juniper practically pushes me toward the bathroom while Sukie and Sage giggle atmy expense. Once in the bathroom, I inspect the dress again. Someone half my age could get away with wearing this, but not me.
With a heavy sigh, I strip out of my clothes, including my bra, since the back of the dress is missing. As I slide the material over my head, I can’t help but like how light it feels against my skin. It’s almost as if I’m not wearing anything at all. After a moment of hesitation, I turn to look at myself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. I stand in front of it and stare back at the woman looking at me. This dress iseverything.It’s short enough to show off my legs but not so short that it feels desperate. The gold fabric shimmers like liquid sunlight and feels light against my skin. I turn. The back plunges low, exposing my shoulder blades and the dip of my spine, but stops just above my ass. My skin glows against the fabric. I feel powerful. Beautiful. For once, I don’t pick apart every imperfection. Instead, I choose to see a woman who has lived, survived, and earned the right to feel good in her skin. This gold dress is transforming. It’s bold and unapologetic. And tonight, so am I.
There’s a knock at the door. “Mom, come out so we can see.”
Taking a deep breath, I open the door. Sukie’s mouth falls open, Sage’s eyes go wide, and Juniper is sporting the biggest smile. “So, how do I look?” I ask.
I feel self-conscious when nobody says anything.
Finally, Sukie speaks, “Oh my God.”
I laugh. “Is that a good, oh my God, or a bad, oh my God?”
“Definitely good, Mom.”
Juniper steps forward, grabs my hand, and motions for me to make a complete three-sixty turn. “Alice Pierce, I don’t know your secret to having a rockin’ bod, but you need to spill.”
Do I blush at her compliment?Yes, yes, I do.
“Wait until Baja sees you in that dress later tonight.” Sage winks.
Snapping her fingers, Juniper dashes back into her closet. “I have the perfect shoes. Hold on.”
