Page 76 of The Passion

“Wow, who is this gorgeous puppy?” She bends down and loves him up, and I’m starting to work out that deep inside my girl there is an animal lover who has been trapped and now gets a chance to come out.

“This is Syd, and yes, you guessed it, short for Sydney. The man misses home.” Patting my leg, I call him off trying to lick Felisha’s face; he is trained so well he actually obeys. Not like my pain-in-the-ass cat.

“Let’s go, Syd, before your mother over there gets impatient.” Taking Felisha’s hand, I walk to where Tori is standing.

Before I can say a word, Tori leans forward and takes Felisha’s other hand.

“Nic, Rem, and Blaise are out the back, and the others haven’t arrived yet. You can leave Felisha with me. Go on, off you go.” Tori waves her hand at me to shoo me away.

“Hello to you too, Mrs. Darby.” I look down at Felisha, and she gives me a subtle little nod to let me know she will be okay. I’ve seen her bring a whole room of tough businessmen to their knees, but this is Tori.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea, but I doubt I have much choice.” Leaning down, I kiss Felisha on the forehead, making sure she knows how much I care. “Don’t tell her anything, she will only use it against me later.”

“My lips are sealed.” Felisha pretends to zip her mouth, but I know that will never work.

“Oh, that won’t work with her, she will weasel it out of you anyway.” Reluctantly letting Felisha’s hand go, I start to walk around the side of the house.

“We will just be talking about handbags and nail polish,” Tori yells to me as I leave them.

“Lies, all lies,” I call over my shoulder as I feel like I’m leaving Felisha to the wolves. Well, just one wolf really. Elouise is not at all like Tori, so hopefully she can control her today.

“Finally, some girl time,” I hear Tori declare excitedly as they disappear in the front door.

And as much as I’m worried, I can’t wipe the smile off my face.

I never thought I would find someone who would make me want what my friends have.

A family, even if it’s just the two of us.

FELISHA

Walking into the house, I can see Tori has exquisite taste.

“Oh, Tori, your house is stunning.” I follow her through to what looks like a large sunroom where a very pregnant woman, who I’m guessing is Elouise, is sitting.

Tori waves it off like it’s nothing. “Nic insisted I add my own touch here and the apartment so I feel like they are my homes too. And let’s be honest, he paid someone to do it before me, so at least now it has a bit of both of us in the style.”

“Flynn said you had a background in design as well as marketing. And I can see the design is first class. No wonder the hotels look great.” We may be in the same industry, but I’m learning we are all on the same team now, and they will never be in direct competition with me if we can all help it.

“Oh, thank you. If I can get the boys to stay out of my domain, it all comes together.” Which has us both laughing because I can imagine what it must be like for her with four alpha males as colleagues helping make the decisions. “Anyway, before I get carried away talking, this is Elouise, Rem’s fiancée. I’m still getting used to saying that, but I’m claiming the fact she was my best friend first before I had to share her.”

Elouise was attempting to get up out of the chair, but I’m quick to put my hands up.

“No, no, please, don’t get up for me. I’m glad to meet you finally. Flynn talks about you all, and now I can hopefully get past the awful first meeting and start fresh.”

“Whatever Flynn said will be exaggerated or made up,” Tori calls from where she is walking back from the kitchen with a tray of glasses and what looks like iced tea.

“Funny, he said the same about you.” I need to stand up for my man.

“Oh, don’t make a pregnant lady laugh.” Elouise is trying to squeeze her legs together. “This baby insists on sitting on my bladder, and that’s not much fun when you start laughing and pee yourself. Being pregnant is not glamorous at all.”

“Oh, stop it, you are glowing and are already an awesome mother to Blaise. And you…” Tori is looking at me as she places the tray on the table in front of Elouise. “We’ll keep you. I’m the first to admit my husband is a pain in the ass, but I won’t let anyone else trash-talk him either. Welcome to the club. Anyone who can fall for that man-child outside is an absolute queen in my eyes.” She hands me a glass full of iced tea, and the two friends raise theirs in the air to mine. As we clink them together, I can’t help but smile.

These two women may be a lot younger than Harper and me, but I already have a feeling we will be best friends in no time. I didn’t know how badly I needed people outside my current circle of toxicity, until now. I know Harper is my only true friend, the rest are just work associates or women from the upper class that you are supposed to act like you are all connected, just through having a title. Being called Lady doesn’t make you one.

The conversation started flowing, and I couldn’t help but smile when Flynn popped in to check on me, pretending he needed to use the bathroom. It’s not until I hear Harper’s and Forrest’s voice coming through the house that I realize it had been over half an hour since we arrived.

“Yeah, well, you don’t understand the roasting I’m going to get for being late,” Forrest grumbles as they enter the room, which has Tori laughing.

---