Page 81 of When to Call a Blitz

“Emmett?” Cooper calls, and I turn back for a moment. “Don’t fuck it up this time.”

38

HEIDI

“What are you wearing?” I ask Mila from my room.

I’m trying hard not to over analyze how I look in the mirror. Whether it’s the way my form-fitting black dress hugs my hips, or the way my hair is sitting, the piece in the front refusing to curl properly. I could find a million things that I’m not happy about if I really wanted to look for them.

And sometimes, I really, really wanted to look for them.

Instead, I get to work on some simple makeup.

Mila pops her head into my room, her face completely done up and gorgeous as usual, her black hair perfectly wavy and shiny.

“I was thinking of this.” She steps into the doorframe, twirling before she untucks the large sweater from the waistband, pulling it forward. “Look at how roomy it is. I’m about to eat so much damn stuffing it’s insane.”

I smile, chuckling. “Someone in this apartment needs to get stuffed.”

Mila winks. “Youcouldyou know. Whether Emmett gets his head out of his damn ass or you talk to Connor. He may not be good for too much but a dick is a dick.”

“Mila! I feel like you know that’s not true.”

“Listen. Until you find the one, which I personally haven’t, there’s either bad or there’s adequate. Frank from down the street? Bad.” She shivers. “Never again.”

“Did he stop calling you?”

“Yes, thank the lord.”

“I don’t think I’ve been with enough people to really tell.”

I’ve always been a little bit scared of it. Not that I ever judged friends who slept around. Honestly, I think I’d be in a much better position if I had.

As my mom always says when she asks if I’ve been seeing anyone, you have to test out the car to see if it’s worthwhile.

“I could never marry someone without taking them for a test drive,” she would say with a flippant wave. “And you shouldn’t either. I don’t want to hear specifics, but make sure you’re going to be happy.”

She never judged people who didn’t sleep together before marriage, but it just simply wasn’t for her.

And yet she had a daughter who couldn’t really be bothered.

I have a vibrator in my dresser. That was good enough for me. Got the job done with no strings attached at all.

“See, that’s why we need to get you out there,” Mila responds with a smile, going through my makeup bag.

We spend a couple more minutes talking before grabbing our things and heading out the door. The drive to the city wasn’t long, and before I know it we’re joining the group of people entering the building and heading up to Leo’s apartment. Usually, you’d need a key card to get in. They’ve been more intense about security lately, but Leo talked to the owners of the building and hired a doorman just for this occasion.

We walk through the door of the apartment to find the room already packed… and we’re here pretty early. Briar stands in a gorgeous green velvet dress and knee-high boots, her blondehair I’ve always been so jealous of styled into a long braided ponytail.

Elara stands next to her in almost the same exact outfit. From everything Briar says, she’s been obsessed with matching with her mom lately.

It’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen and I won’t lie, it makes me want to use this dusty uterus of mine.

“There’s Isla!” Mila yells over the thrum of voices. She grabs my arm, pulling me toward the pies where she and Owen stand.

“How many did you make this year?” Mila immediately asks in leu of a hello.

“Like, ten,” Isla responds. About the average amount. Other people have started bringing food as well, including a large amount of pies. We have enough dessert to last weeks. If people don’t bring it home for their families, Leo brings it to one of the local homeless shelters.

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