Page 10 of Lipstick Kiss

Freya was almost home free when Erica spotted she was wearing gloves.

“Oh, are you cold? Let me get you a hoodie to wear over your blouse as we’re outside.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

I’ll roast alive if I wear a hoodie.

“You’re wearing gloves, honey.”

Erica raced away from her up the staircase to her left and was back less than a minute later. Freya pulled on the hoodie, and to her joy, it had a front pouch pocket.

Even better than her pockets and cuffs idea.

“This is great, thank you.”

Freya followed Erica through the kitchen and out into the open back patio area to the assembled group. Luke sat alone on one sofa. Heidi and Jason sat on another couch, and Archer sat on the oversized armchair. Erica went straight to her husband and sat on his lap.

Her only option was to sit next to Luke. She hadn’t thought this through at all. He was going to mention the ring.

He absolutely would mention the ring when he saw her gloves.

Fuckit.

“Hey Freya, did you bring your fiancé tonight?” Luke asked as she sat down next to him.

Shit.

Four versions ofwhat the fuckcame her way. Heidi’s was the one that cut the deepest. Freya didn’t know where to look and had the urge to burst out laughing through sheer terror.

“I’ll get you a drink while you show your closest friends your ring,” Luke said.

It was almost like he knew she was lying through her teeth.

He kissed the top of her head as he passed her like he always did. At least some things stayed the same. Luke disappeared out of sight and into the kitchen. Luke knewwhat she drank, so there were no delaying tactics about what she could drink.

“What the hell?” Heidi hissed. “Show me the damn ring and then tell me why you kept this engagement from your best friend since birth,” she yelled.

Freya could feel her shoulders rise so high that she had no neck left. Pulling her hands out, she was met with a laugh from Erica. “Is that why you’re wearing gloves?”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling sheepish.

Freya pulled off the glove on her left hand and waggled her finger.

“I know that ring,” Erica said.

“Me too,” Archer, Heidi and Jason said at the same time.

“It’s stuck,” Freya whispered. “I tried it on this morning, and it won’t come off. I’ve tried everything. Then Luke rocks up unannounced, and he was so incredulous that someone wants to marry me, I pretended it was real.”

“Who does he think you’re marrying?” Heidi said through her snort laughing. She slapped her chest to stop choking.

“A teacher at school.”

Heidi guffawed before she said, “But all the male teachers are already married.”

“He doesn’t know that,” Freya hissed, checking over her shoulder to see if Luke was coming back.

“This is a movie waiting to be made,” Erica said, leaning forward to get her wine glass.

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