Page 174 of Consume Me

Bailey waves at us and takes off to the media department.

“Hunter and Bailey are getting worse,” Celine says, and Abi sighs.

“You think pushing them helps, but they are like baby ducks stepping into the water for the first time,” I say.

“I can’t wait for tonight. Finally a night out,” Celine says.

“Thank you for your support, girls.”

“Hey, we’re family. But I can’t watch anymore movies or have game nights. At least for a while,” Abi says.

“Girl, you’re so getting fucked tonight, and I can stop muffling my moans in the pillow,” Celine says. They burst into laughter while heat creeps up my neck.

Since Blake had to be on bed rest, they all helped me by keeping him occupied at home, and apparently, they also went above and beyond that.

“Aww, thank you for being so selfless, you two.”

“Shut up,” Abi says. “Dane is not that selfless. When I tried to muffle his name, he basically stopped mid-fucking and brought me to our place.”

I chuckle. “He’s something else.”

“Well, there will be no more muffled sounds. I swear Kaden went from understanding to fucking me so hard every time we weren’t at the house just to get the moans he wanted.”

***

At the end of my classes, Blake waits for me, and knowing he’s mine makes the experience even better.

I rush to him and jump into his arms. He catches me, kissing and swirling me around.

“That’s a mandatory greeting from now on,” he says through kisses.

Hand in hand, we walk to the house.

“You seem really excited about going out later,” he says teasingly.

“I am. It will do me good to let loose.”

“Oh, you so will.”

A current travels through me, my patience hanging by one frail thread that’s going to snap at any moment.

When we walk inside, he stays with the guys in the living room for a bit, while I go to our girls’ room––the Lady Boss Lair, where the girls are getting ready.

A bottle of champagne chills on the table, and I pick up a glass. “To a magical night.”

We toast and get dressed. I wear a purple dress that is so tight I can’t even wear panties. Then I put on a biker jacket and matching black leather boots.

I cat line my eyes and brush on a bit of mascara. Adding a bit of kiss-proof lipstick, I finish my look by wearing Blake’s diamond hair clip. I turn around, and the girls give me a thumbs up. I take a seat and sip from my glass until everyone else is ready.

“So, how is everyone really holding up?” I ask the girls.

“I am intent on looking on the bright side of things for once. I’m alive. No pressure to be someone I’m not and having the liberty to chase after my dreams freely. It’s not that I am channeling an ostrich who buries her head in the sand, but I want to focus on the present more,” Abi says. “I freaking deserve to live and love and laugh and dream. And no one will take that from me ever again.”

“I just want to enjoy this break. I’m getting tired of constantly being on alert, worrying all the damn time. All my future plans involve leaving something better behind, but for once, I want to take each day as it comes and live,” Celine says. “After everything that’s what we should all do—learn to live.”

“I need to stay busy so I can function, and until Felix is found, I can’t think of anything else,” Bailey says. “I wouldn’t even know where to start with making a life plan… I’m good at one thing. Live vicariously for me, girls. I think I am destined to live half a life with half a heart and half a will.”

“You found their location once, you’ll find it again. Give yourself a break, Bailey.”

---