Page 26 of Quake

“Have fun, and promise to either stay the night or call me to get you if you’re too tired to drive or if you drink.” He envelops me in a quick hug, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before releasing me to leave.

“I promise. See you in a few hours,” I tell him, waving as I head out.

***

I park along the street, a little nervous about leaving my baby, affectionately named Cherry, out here, but at least I know I’m inthe right place. Familiar cars belonging to my best friends line the narrow road.

I walk up the paved pathway with Tiny glued to my side, and the moment I step on the porch, the door bursts open, startling me. My heart pounds inside my chest as I jump backward, but the monster of a man before me juts out his hand, wrapping it around my lower back and steadying me before I can fall backward and crack my head open.

My eyes widen when I realize who it is. “Gianni.” I breathe.

His aquamarine eyes bore straight into me, the dark circles under them making him look even more haunted than the last time I’d seen him. “Dr. Hughes.” He nods, releasing me once I’m steady on my feet. He makes his way around me, rushing to his car like a madman, and it isn’t until he’s at the vehicle that I realize Pickles is trailing behind him, her fluffy tail happily swishing as she waits for him to open the trunk for her.

I watch as he opens it and see that the trunk is filled with pink fluffy blankets. Pickles jumps in, circling around the center of the blankets and nudging them into the right position with her nose before finally deciding to plop down.

Gianni’s eyes dart up, boring holes into me when he notices me still standing here. I feel a flush creep across my skin, so I duck my head, and I enter the house, hoping the open door was an invitation.

I head down the thin limestone-walled corridor with peeling wallpaper on the top half. The entryway opens up into a larger living space with the kitchen to the right, and a room of smiling faces greets me. “Lark! You made it!” Kira shouts as she bolts outof her seat and runs toward me, dragging me by my bicep over to the group of women.

“Hi, everyone.” I smile sheepishly, feeling a little out of place.

“Lark! God, no wonder my baby Gi has the hots for you! You’re gorgeous,” the older woman sitting in the wheelchair beside Kat tells me. My eyes widen, and I feel my cheeks flush with heat.

The room fills with everyone shouting “Gloria!” and “Mom!” as if they’re used to her making outlandish statements.

A busty redhead is seated on the floor in front of a woman with pastel-pink hair. She smiles brightly at me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Gloria has a way with words,” she says with a laugh, her voice taking on a light quality reminiscent of a fairy. “Kat filled us in on your dinner the other night, and Kira filled in the rest of the details. Don’t worry, Gi isn’t here pining after you.” She winks at me. “Though we hear you just had a breakup, so if you want him to be—” She doesn’t finish her sentence as the pink-haired woman behind her smacks her over her pretty head with a pillow.

“You guys are insufferable,” Kat says, still smiling, her words laced with affection. She pats the seat on the worn floral couch beside her. “Come sit by me, and I’ll introduce you to all the tyrants in the room.”

That makes me chuckle, and I’m hit with a wave of longing as I notice Gloria smiling so fondly at Kat as if they were cut from the same cloth.I wish my mother were still around.

Shaking the thought from my mind, I take a seat beside her. She leans forward, pointing at each person, starting with Gloria. “This is my mother-in-law or soon to be, I hope,” she laughs, “and as you already know, her name is Gloria.”

“I could be your future mother-in-law too, sweet cheeks.” The older woman winks at me, her blue eyes shining with mischief.

“Ignore her,” another woman says. “I’m Charlie, and this is my wife, Rose.”

Rose waves and smiles at me but doesn’t say anything. “This troublemaker is Arielle. She’s Rose’s best friend and my brother’s wife.” Arielle blows me an exaggerated kiss from her spot on the floor.

I already know the other women as they’remytroublemakers, but just when I thought the introductions were over, a tiny woman with glowing tawny skin comes barreling into the room. Her long black hair is strewn around her head in a knotted mess. “Sorry!” she shouts as she rushes to take her seat on the floor in front of Kat. “I was, uh…” Her eyes dart around the room as her hands fly to her hair, trying to flatten it. “Really busy at work,” she explains, grimacing at her own lie.

“I call bullshit. We literally work together, Aiyana. I sign your damn time cards,” Rose deadpans.

“She was getting railed into the mattress.” Charlie chuckles, which makes Kat lean forward, making a retching sound.

“Gross! You do realize she’s married to mybrother,right? Boundaries, please!” Kat practically begs.

“Have you met these women? Thereare noboundaries in this house,” the woman mumbles before turning toward me, extending her hand for a shake. “Hi! You must be the veterinarian, Lark. Nice to meet you.” She smiles. “I’m Aiyana.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, and uh, good for you,” I say with a smirk, a chuckle passing my lips. The room erupts in a fit of laughter.

“I think you’ll fit right in,” Gloria says, smiling broadly.

Kira looks toward Madison and Jade, wearing an expectant look on her face. “Can we move in and never leave?” she asks jokingly.

“You’re all welcome anytime,” Gloria tells her. “Now, are you ladies ready to talk smut?”1

Kira smiles widely at her, but the gleam in her eyes tells me whatever’s about to leave her mouth should have me worried. “Gloria!” she says in her singsong voice. “Is that a freaking custom ‘smut slut’ T-shirt?”

---