Page 28 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“Hey,” Kendall says cheerily as she enters, followed by Bedard. “I didn’t expect everyone to be awake.”

Everyone says good morning and continues with the breakfast prep and coffee pouring. It’s nice to be included for once. I’ve never experienced feeling like I’m one of the gang like I do now. It’s like the empty spaces in my heart are getting filled up. As wonderful as it feels, I’m afraid to trust it. It’s going to crush me if it gets pulled away.

“Kennie,” Brick says, “Randi and I are going dress shopping for New Year’s. Want to go with us?”

Kennie turns wide eyes to me. “You hate shopping. Who are you and what you have you done with my best friend?”

I laugh, trying to hide my discomfort. “I need something to wear, Ken. Shopping is a necessity.”

“There are dresses in my closet,” Declan says.

I think I understand what he’s saying, but before I can respond, Bedard claps him on the shoulder.

“Mac, we will support you in your choices, but your dresses won’t fit Randi. You’re twice her weight and almost a foot and a half taller than her.”

Bedard’s sincerity is touching, but the laughter slips out and soon I’m laughing hard enough to cause tears to stream down my face and Dec’s deep chuckles join mine. When we finally compose ourselves, five expressions ranging from confusion to amusement are facing us.

“They aren’t my dresses,” Dec says. “They’re dresses Miranda left behind when she moved to New Zealand.”

My hand hovers over the bowl’s edge, having stopped before I could crack it. For some reason, my heart has kicked into overdrive. “I thought you put them in consignment? You sent me the money,” I peek at him over my shoulder, feeling inexplicably shy.

Dec’s expression is sheepish. “That was too much effort. Go see if any of it will work.”

“Wait.” Brick holds up her hands in loose fists and shakes them like they were a set of my old pom-poms. I wonder if he has those stashed in the closet, too? I’ll have to snoop when I unpack. “You move her dresses around with you? That’s so romantic.”

Not sure I’d call it romantic, but it’s sweet. As is the blush creeping up his cheeks from under his beard.

Stone looks up from the bread he’s pulling out of the wrapper. “I’m going to make a French toast casserole instead of individual slices. You have time to play dress up, Randi.”

Kennie pulls her phone out of her jeans pocket. “Want me to text Mallory and Daphne? I think they’re all at the house.”

Shrugging, I say, “Sure. You all have a better idea of what is appropriate than I do. I’m not good at this stuff. I have a black knit dress I use for everything.”

Ken’s fingers fly across her screen. “They’ll be here in five minutes. What size shoe do you wear?”

“US seven and a half.”

More typing. Ken grins and glances up. “Same size as Daph. If you need something, she’s got you covered.”

“Um, okay…” Sharing shoes isn’t something I like to do, but whatever.

Bedard opens the apartment door to let in Mallory and Daphne. They must have been on their way because it hasn’t been five minutes.

Daphne hugs me, hard. “Yay, we’ll get you ready for the party, like fairy godmothers.”

Then she bursts into tears. While laughing. “Sorry, hormones.” She pulls a pocket pack of tissues from somewhere around her boobs. At our stunned looks, she pulls a What? face. “I don’t have pockets, but I’ve got these puppies.” She cups her boobs. I swear they’ve grown a cup size since last night. “And they’re going to be useful.”

Declan stands. “I’ll show you where the dresses are.”

We follow him into our apartment, and I lead the way into my bedroom.

“Oh, this is nice,” Daphne says. I didn’t make my bed yet, leaving Dec’s Scottie dog sheets visible. “Scotties, I love them. I think Birdie needs a puppy.”

She rubs her belly, and I swear it grew along with her boobs overnight.

“Are you sure Birdie is the only one in there?” I ask in what I hope is a diplomatic way.

Declan is behind Daphne, frantically shaking his head no and doing a “cut” motion across his throat.

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