Page 8 of Resisting Fate
Hailey smiled serenely, proud of her self-appointed title. “And, Sabrina, you’re getting quite a rep as a relationship healer.”
Sabrina blushed. “It’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. Word spreads and then more people looking for healing come to me. They’re ready and willing to do the work.”
Hailey flicked her long strawberry blond hair over her shoulder. “We should put our heads together for some more coupling.”
Lexi snorted. “Coupling. That sounds dirty.”
They cracked up.
“What about you, Sabrina?” Hailey asked. “You’re an expert on relationships, does that mean you’d like one for yourself soon?”
Sabrina blushed, looking away. “Sometimes when you know as much as I do, it’s almost a curse.” She turned back to Hailey. “I can see warning signs of relationship incompatibility a mile away. It makes it hard to relax and just enjoy.”
“I could help you get comfortable,” Hailey said. “I’ve brought so many couples together already, and some of them were seriously gun-shy.”
Missy stifled a laugh. Hailey took credit for a lot of couples that they all thought would’ve happened anyway.
Sabrina pointed at Missy, purposely shifting Hailey’s focus.
Hailey cocked her head at Missy. “What’s so funny?”
Missy forced a straight face. “Nothing.”
Hailey crossed her legs and leveled an assessing look at Missy. “How long have we known each other now? Two years? And in that time I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned a man in your life.”
Missy leaned forward. “That’s because there is no man in my lifeby choice. Casual hookups, yes. Relationships, no.”
The women went quiet. It was the first time Hailey had pressed Missy on her relationship status. Lexi and Sabrina already knew she preferred casual hookups. Missy had never explained why, and her friends had never asked, probably sensing her defensiveness on the matter. The only people who knew about Missy’s past were her therapist back in Seattle and her sister. She’d wanted to start over in Clover Park, where nobody would ever know she was once a victim. She wanted to be a new Missy, a stronger, smarter version of herself. Her recent fuckup with the married Matt was still too humiliatingly fresh. Missy had learned the key to surviving was to address only the immediate danger and leave the emotional aftermath for later when she was ready.
She wasn’t ready. She’d known better, and it still burned that she’d been stupid enough to let Matt in close.
“Can I ask why?” Hailey asked gently.
“This is a circle of trust,” Sabrina added in such a serious tone Missy nearly laughed.
Lexi nodded. “Doesn’t leave this limo.”
Missy sighed, knowing her friends meant well. “Let’s just say I’ve had too many bad experiences to ever trust a man.” She thought about her ex-husband and all the women she’d personally helped, victimized like her. “And I don’t mean just a bad breakup. I mean traumatically bad.” At their sympathetic looks, her throat tightened, and a telltale stinging in her eyes told her to shut up. “Let’s talk about something else. I’ve really been looking forward to this party, and I don’t want to get all worked up about my shitty past experiences.”
“Absolutely,” Sabrina said. “Another time. Just know my door’s always open.” Sabrina lived down the hall from Missy.
“Mine too,” Lexi and Hailey chimed in at the same time.
Missy blinked rapidly, her lips pressed tightly together.
“More champagne?” Hailey asked, breaking the tension. They all offered their glasses, and the mood immediately became lighter.
By the time they arrived at the mansion, they were all tipsy, having finished off a second bottle of champagne, and were getting increasingly raunchy, laughing like loons. They settled down as the limo pulled around a circular driveway with a marble fountain in the center. This place looked like someone took a European palace complete with manicured grounds and plopped it down in the middle of Connecticut. No wonder they filmed the movies here.
The driver opened the door for them and then helped them out of the limo. Sometimes Missy had to pinch herself that this was all real.
A distinguished-looking older man in a black tuxedo answered the door (a butler?) and took their coats for them. Hailey, always the confident leader, strode through the crowd of mingling people in the two-story foyer, bypassing the adjacent crowded parlor and dining room, and went straight back to the conservatory. The large white-paneled room had only two sofas, a couple of high-backed chairs, and a grand piano—probably cleared out for maximum mingling at the party. A crowd gathered by the bar on the opposite side of the room.
They quickly found Claire surrounded by admirers. Hailey didn’t hesitate to join the group, coming right up to Claire with a beaming smile and warm congratulations. Claire still looked the part of her character, Mia, with shoulder-length brown hair instead of her natural blond. Claire hugged Hailey, and the rest of them slid in close.
“I’m so happy you’re here!” Claire exclaimed, hugging each of them before addressing her group of admirers, saying, “These are my sisters from another mister! Seriously, they have been my rock through all three movies.”
The group welcomed them, and Claire introduced each of them—part of her regular crew working for her production company. Then Blake Grenier—A-list movie star, featured player in every woman’s erotic Fierce trilogy fantasies, andPeople’s Sexiest Man Alive—joined them. He was breathtaking in real life. His eyes were impossibly blue, accented by his dark blue custom-tailored suit and jet-black hair. His features were masculine perfection, strong and sharp, his lips sensuous. She’d swoon if she were the type. He positively oozed sex.
