Page 24 of Acid

“Oh, there already is one,” Queenie states, placing her hands on her hips.

We all turn and look at her wide eyed. “Where?” Star asks.

“I’m not sure now, but when I was younger there were a group of ol’ ladies that had been beaten and abused by their men. Can’t remember what club they were from.” She pauses for a minute to try and remember them. “Anyway, I had asked them for help at one point for your beautiful mom,” she says, looking at Maggie. “And they offered us to join them. They were new then.” She smiles. “But something happened, and they moved away, some kind of trouble or something. So, no idea if they are still a thing,” she answers.

“What were they called?” Josie asks.

“Savage Sisters, bonded together from asshole husbands. Well, bonded over killing their men more like.” Queenie snorts.

“Jesus, what fucking icons,” Star says in awe.

We all nod. I don’t know each of their stories, but for them to agree with Star, for us all to think the same thing, that those women sound fucking epic, I know they must have all experienced some kind of wronging from men. It gave me hope that they have found their happiness, that they have found a decent man to love and adore them. No matter how scary the men of this club looked, for their women and their family, they loved, protected, and cared beyond anyone could imagine.

“How are you feeling now? Do you need any more painkillers?” Queenie asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, I’m okay.” I smile.

I catch Dixie eying me. “What were you thinking about?” she asks.

I debate if I should say what I was thinking. Would it make me sound pathetic, but I figured they would get it. “That you, the guys give me some kind of hope. That there are some decent men out there. That even though your men look like they could kill anyone without a second thought, they are probably… No, they are the most genuine, caring men I’ve ever met.” I sigh. I’m met with silence, and feeling awkward, I laugh it off. “Ignore me, I sound pitiful. It’s just that you’ve given me hope. Not right now, as I still have that ‘hate all men’ feeling in my soul, but one day, maybe.” I look at each of them, and I see all their eyes are on me, not saying a word. “Jesus, someone say something,” I protest.

Star smiles wide, a glint sparkling in her eyes. “Oh god help us, she’s got that look about her,” Queenie sighs.

Dixie groans while the others exchange a knowing look. “What?” I ask, looking at them.

Maggie sits forward. “Anytime that Star gets that look, that glint in her eye, it means she’s planning something that will no doubt piss the guys off,” she states.

“Who said that what I’m thinking will get us in trouble?” Star defends. “I was just thinking that when she is ready, wouldn’t itbe nice to go out? Like to a club. We should have a girls’ night. No men,” she adds.

Josie raises a questionable brow. “And that’s it? No ulterior motives?”

Star feigns innocence. “I’m hurt by your accusations.”

“Yeah, right. Although, I will say that even though they tend to end in disaster, they are always fun.” Maggie smirks.

“See!” Star points out.

Belle sits there eating. “Well,” she says between mouthfuls. “Whatever this event is that you’re planning, I’m out. Too fat and too tired for your excitement.”

“Fair enough, you are excused.” Star nods. “But come on, I’m a mom now. Josie, Rhea, and soon-to-be Belle. It’s only a matter of time until Maggie and Dixie get pregnant, then we’ll hardly get out at all,” Star whines.

“Firstly, there is no way on hell’s earth that I am getting pregnant anytime soon,” Maggie says adamantly. “No offence, Queenie.”

Queenie shrugs. “No offence taken. I know that you’ll give me grand-babies when the time comes.” Maggie smiles and nods, although I get the feeling children are not on her list of things that she wants in her life.

“So, when will this night out be? Because as much as you guys are warning me that this could end in trouble, a part of me really wants to go out and let off some steam. I haven’t been out with friends in...” I pause. “Well, I’ve never been out with friends before. I’ve been in a relationship, had Oliver, and then there was the ex who was controlling me with his fists,” I sigh. They all look at each other, a sympathetic gaze in their eyes. I wave my hand and shake my head. “Please God, no more sympathetic looks, no more. I’m sorry, I don’t want to hear any more about it. I want to move on with my life, move on with my son’s life, and never look back. So, I’m going to need this night out. I’m goingto need to let my hair down to be, well, just a normal woman. I’ve never been a woman, and I’ve never been just a girl out with her friends.” Again, they have the sympathetic look in their eyes. I smile. “Now that you can have a sympathetic look for that, I’m going to make you feel guilty, if that is what is going to make all of you take me on apparently a night I will never forget.” I wait for their response.

“For fuck’s sake, now we’ve got to go on a girls’ night out,” Maggie states.

“Fine, even I will come. As long as we go somewhere that has food,” Belle adds. Star’s smile widens. “And what about you Josie?” she asks.

Josie rolls her eyes. “Fine, I’m in. Just let’s make it back in one piece with no fights and no one getting shot.”

Nova chokes on her drink. My eyes go wide, and I look at Star. “Someone got shot?”

Star shrugs, looking away. “You know what it’s like these days, everyone’s got guns. Someone’s bound to get shot, right?” she says, letting out a little nervous laughter. “So, Dixie, you in?” she asks, quickly diverting the conversation.

Dixie nods. “Sure, I’m happy to be the designated driver again,” she states.

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