Page 44 of Coerced Queen

“Nope.”Nicole hiccups.“Not going to do the walk of shame home tomorrow morning.My husband will have a fit.”

“Call him and tell him to come over,” Anya says.

“And spoil our girls’ fun?”Nicole shrieks.“Never.”

What the hell?The women are so caught up in theirfunthey don’t notice me.

I climb down the step.“What’s going on?”

Livy twists in her seat.“Sav.”Her voice is nasally from the mask that pinches her nose.“We’re having a lady’s night.”

Is she tipsy?“What’s with the mask, Liv?”

“It prevents the smoke from burning my eyes.”

I swing a crutch toward the fire pit.“This is illegal.You know that, right?”

“There’s my grumpy friend,” Nicole says with a cackle.“Trust the mafia boss to stick to the rules.How’s that for irony?”She strains her neck to look at me and rolls her eyes.“We won’t tell if you don’t.Don’t get your boxers in a twist.We’re just letting our hair down a bit.”She kicks Livy’s snow boot and snickers.“And boy, do we need it.”

Anya gives me a sweet smile.“We’re grilling marshmallows.Livy is sentimental tonight.She misses her camping days.”She points at the garden table on which marshmallows on skewers and bowls of flaked chocolate and whipped cream are set out.An almost empty bottle of my best red and an open bottle of sherry flank the baby monitor.The grape juice must be for Anya who doesn’t drink alcohol because she’s breastfeeding.“Want to join us?”

“Ooh,” Nicole says, wagging a manicured finger with a red-painted nail.“Not a good idea.”She tips back her head to look upside-down at me, catching her hat just before it falls off.“Why do you think we’re having chocolate and wine?”

Taking her in with a narrowed gaze, I step closer, ready to catch her glass, which tips precariously in her grip.“Are you drunk?”

She tuts with indignation, dragging her neck up with some difficulty.“A woman is never drunk, dummy.We’rehappy.”

“Yeah?”I lean my weight on my crutches.“What madeyouso happy?”

“The wine and the chocolate, silly.”She snickers again.“Oops.We didn’t tell him why we’re choc-o’wining.”

“Nicole is having her period,” Livy says.“I’m post-post-menopausal, and I’m really disappointed about not shooting my gun.”

I go closer, certain I didn’t hear right.“What did you say?”

“She’s joking,” Anya says with a nervous laugh.

“ButI’mnot.”Nicole waves me over.“I’m dangerous when I’m menstrual.I need a refill, Sav.”She flicks her fingers.“Make it snappy.”

Livy bursts out laughing as if Nicole said something funny.

I balance a crutch against the table and lift the bottle of red, eyeing the level.“Tough day, Cole?”

“Your girl is a lot of fun.”Nicole flashes me a toothy grin.“Sorry.”She swings her finger toward Livy.“Your girls, as in plural.You should take them out more often.It’s a sin to lock them up in this stuffy ol’ house.”She wiggles her shoulders.“Ew.You did never tell me the place was so formal.”

I stiffen at that.Fun isn’t how I’ll describe our relationship.Is that what Anya misses?Fun?Why wouldn’t she?She’s a young, lively, beautiful, normal woman.And now she’s stuck with a disabled, scarred,grumpyhusband.

Unable to squash my defensiveness, I say, “Anya is going to redecorate.”

“Not right away,” Anya says, sounding uncomfortable.“We have other priorities.”

“Such as a beautiful, too-pretty-to-look-at little girl.”Nicole slugs back the wine that’s left in her glass.“Who, may I remind you,Idelivered, and who now needs a new godmother.”She looks pointedly at Anya.“Go on.Ask me.You know you want to.”

“Hold on.”I put the wine aside.“Back up there one second.What do you mean she needs a new godmother?”

“Didn’t Anya tell you?”Nicole asks, looking aghast.“Tersia resigned.”

I clench my fingers into a fist.“She did what?”

---