Page 34 of Against the Autumn Pines
My phone started vibrating, and I looked over to find it was a group video call coming in, but the name across the top of my screen made me smile.
“Bakery Bitches” was sliding across with a bunch of pastry emojis plastered after it. I hit the answer button and propped my phone against my water bottle on the floor across from where I was seated.
“You are so not ready yet!” Ivy squealed into the speaker. I looked at the top half of my screen to reveal a half-dressed Ivy who was currently running a straightener through her long blonde hair.
“I get ready quickly, don’t panic,” I replied.
Aspen laughed. She was already fully dressed, makeup and hair done. “This is true, Ivy, and don’t worry, Ember. I’m only fully ready because it’s my party, and it would look bad to make Ro greet all the guests alone.”
“Um, is his family coming?” I questioned, the nerves suddenly swirling in the bottom of my stomach. Aspen and Ivy knew everything that Wyatt had told me. It wasn’t as if they knew all about my father, but I gave them a brief enough explanation to explain exactly why the situation had bothered me so much.
It wasn’t a reunion I was looking forward to when it inevitably happened again.
Aspen bit her bottom lip. “Ugh yes, they’re all coming. I’ll tell him to fuck off and leave you alone if you want!”
I smiled, though it felt forced. “No, don’t be ridiculous. It’s his brother’s and soon-to-be sister-in-law’s house. I’m a grown-up, I just may whine a little later.”
Ivy finally set down her straightener and started jumping up and down. I swear this girl was like a walking, talking,box of sunshine. “Oh! I’ll bring the wine, and you can whine. Pun intended. Get it?”
I nodded while pinching my lips together in an effort not to cry at how lame that joke was. At least now my smile was genuine though.
“Got it,” Aspen and I said in unison.
We talked for a few minutes before I hung up, and I was determined to get my shit together and get to Aspen’s. Rolling up my mat so CC didn’t get any wise ideas about a new napping spot, I stripped out of my comfy clothes and pulled out my costume.
Stepping into my black fishnets, checking them over in the mirror to ensure they set on my legs evenly, then into the green body suit that made up the majority of my costume. The top fit more like a corset, making my boobs look phenomenal. The base color was a deep forest green with small pieces of ivy that swooped up and around my curves beautifully. Another fifteen minutes, and my light red hair went from a messy bun to soft wavy curls, my eyeliner was sharp enough to kill a man, and my lipstick was a deep red that gave off Gothic vampire vibes—or in this case, sexy villain out of a DC comic book.
Honestly, I looked hot as hell and for once I didn’t feel conceded saying that.
I tied the mask around my eyes for the final piece, trying to push down the thoughts that came with this mask every time I so much as looked at it. Tonight was not about him, and I wouldn’t be holding myself back because an anonymous man who gave me a fake name, was good in bed. That would be insane, kiss and all. My mind slipped to Wyatt, and I quickly shut that down. I knew that he’d be there tonight, it was at his brother’s house after all, but steering clear of him was the best option out of all of them.
I ran my fingers through my hair, a habit I seemed to develop when my nerves were high and then put on my black heels.
“Perfect,” I said to myself as I did one more look in the mirror. “I can do this. Socializing with people my age when I’m not working and safe behind a counter. How hard can it be?”
The sun was already settingbehind the Rocky Mountains that encompassed the ranch, so it was already pretty dark as I stared out my windshield, but Aspen had the house lit up with outdoor fairy lights, and a bonfire was starting in the front yard. Rowan and her really did think of everything to make this party perfect.
I threw my phone and keys in the glove box before climbing out of my Jeep and walking up to the front door. Aspen had already told us to walk right in when we got here, but it still felt like breaking a law of some kind to just wander into a house this stunning without knocking.
It reminded me of a house you’d see on the front of a Colorado magazine, just begging you to come and stay in the snowy Rockies and never leave. The two-story log cabin, with stone accents, a wrap-around porch, and massive windows that gave you a panoramic view of the land before it. Nestled right beneath the base of the mountain, it was picturesque.
I walked up the steps and knocked before pushing the door open—if only because my mother would pass away if I didn’t even knock once.
“Ember, is that you?! I tracked you the whole way here.” After Aspen had been taken by her psycho ex, she’d insistedon the three of us having each other’s locations at all times. I thought it would bother me, but truly, it was nice knowing someone cared enough to even ask for it.
Aspen walked out of the kitchen with a massive smile on her face. She looked absolutely stunning—not that that differed from any other moment in time.
“Well hello, Harley. You look hot as fuck. I’m assuming Rowan is the Joker?” I asked with a smile.
She nodded. “He is, although I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Harley was with Poison Ivy too, so I may have to warn him about how delicious you look in that outfit.” She winked and wrapped me in a tight hug.
Rowan walked out, shaking his head, and gave me a quick one-armed hug. He looked over at Aspen and pulled her roughly against his side before kissing her cheek. “Are you trying to drive me crazy tonight, woman?”
“That’s Harley to you, doll, not woman.” She looked over at me, her pigtail smacking Rowan in the face. “Rule tonight, we’re role-playing. Everyone gets called by their costume name! Sound good, Poison Ivy darling?”
I chucked. “Makes total sense, Harley. Although I imagine it’ll be confusing for Ivy and me.”
Aspen held up her hand. “Ah! You are Ivy tonight. I think you mean Super Girl. She’ll be along shortly. Don’t worry. She’s also bringing her…boy. So we all need to be kind and keep our comments to a minimum.” I watched as she forced a smile, and Rowan rolled his eyes.
