Page 151 of As They Are
His eyes slid upward. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
I resisted a laugh as Mollie called my name. In the seating area, she waited for me in a floral dress. Her bump was getting bigger, though that didn’t seem to slow her down.
It was one of the things I loved about her.
“There you are!” Mollie ran over to me and pulled me into a hug.
“We just saw each other an hour ago.”
Her arms squeezed. “I know. I just like hugging you.”
That was exactly what I needed to hear. For a second, I felt normal.
“Mollie!” another woman called. “You look so good!”
My best friend pulled away and turned to Jade, who had another woman with long, curly black hair with her.
“Thank you!” she said. “Oh, Wren, have you met Grace?”
“I’ve probably seen you around,” I said, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I’ve been so busy with the show and ...” I gestured to Mollie.
“It’s totally fine,” Grace said. “Although I’mdyingto give you a makeover at the clothing shop.”
My heart sank. “O-oh. I mostly stay in work clothes.”
“Uh, duh. Itsosuits you. I just got in some new colors that would work so well with your vibe. Oh! And a set of comfortable clothes for your days off.”
“You’re not trying to force me in dresses or anything?”
“No!” she scoffed. “The best outfit is what you’re comfortable in.”
“She’s so good at dressing people,” Jade added. “But the work clothes she’s found are so cuteImight wear them.”
Jade was in combat boots and a skirt. I couldn’t see her wearing anything other than those.
Which meant the collection must have been good.
“I need to make sure we’re going to local businesses too. Henry could also shop.”
“Oh, Henry. I order sweaters just for him.” Grace sighed with a fond expression on her face. “What a little nerd.”
“Are you close with him?” I had to talk around the cotton in my throat.
Grace’s eyes widened. “Not like that! Only as a friend!”
“Girl code is in session here,” Jade said. “The second one of us is into someone, they’re off-limits.”
“Is that what you did with Cain?”
“Cain was never an option,” Jade said. “I don’t do things with men I know too well. Tried it once, and it didn’t work out for me.”
“Gabriel talk isbanned,”Grace said. “He’s dead to us.”
Jade put up her hands. “Sorry!”
I felt like I was missing a ton of context, but I wasn’t sure if I was mad about it. They seemed welcoming, even though my time here was limited.
