Page 24 of Callahan's Haven

“It was my favorite too,” Hope said, nodding furiously and laughing.

Haven looked at her friends, dumbfounded. “Oh, my God. This is so not good.”

“You’re right,” Destiny said, a twinkle of glee in her eyes. “It’d been better if they’d tased his ass.”

Haven grimaced at her friend. “You’re so tiny and cute,” Haven said, giving her friend a once over. “No one would know what a bloodthirsty little thing you are.”

A slow smile spread over Destiny’s face. “Yeah. It’s grand, isn’t it.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Hope said waving her hands to get their attention. “Destiny’s a compact commando. Now, back to the important stuff. Was he the really tall, fair-looking guy?” Hope’s eyes widened with interest. “Or the even taller dark-haired one?” She sighed. “He looked deliciously broody.”

“Deliciously broody?” Destiny wrinkled her nose and laughed “We havegotto get you some different reading material.”

“What?” Hope’s fair cheeks bloomed pink. “So, I like a good bodice ripper.”

“You’dliketo have your bodice ripped,” Destiny said, shaking her head, and then turned her attention back to Haven. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Which one?”

Haven let out a long sigh. She might as well tell them. They’d drag it out of her eventually anyway. “The fair one. And, before you ask, yes, Hope, he was deliciously broody too.”

“Mmm…delicious.” Destiny gave her a speculative look. “Why are you turning so red? What’d you do, climb the man like a tree?”

Haven didn’t say anything, ducking her head when heat flamed her face even more while her two friends laughed.

“I’m joking.” Destiny sobered and nudged her with her shoulder. “I know you wouldn’t have.”

Haven peeked up at her through her lashes and bit her lip.

“Wait a minute.” Destiny tilted her head and searched Haven’s face, her jaw dropping when she looked past her to Hope. “Oh, my God. I think she did.”

Hope scooted over to the middle of the bed and leaned over to give Haven her own once over. “I…” A grin spread over her face. “I think you’re right.”

“Come on, you guys.” Haven untangled herself from the covers and crawled between them to the foot of the bed and then stepped out toward her closet. “What time is it anyway?” She didn’t want to miss her ten-thirty class.

Hope and Destiny scrambled off the bed and rushed to cut her off, with Destiny blocking her way with her arms spread out. “It’s almost eleven.” Hope joined in on the human barricade.

“Eleven!” Great. She must’ve forgotten to set her alarm. “I can still make it for the last half if you guys get out of my way.”

Hope shook her head. “You can’t.”

Haven wanted to stomp her foot in frustration but figured they’d just laugh at her. “Why?”

The two other women shared a look before Hope grimaced, saying, “Your dad’s waiting for you at the campus security office.”

“He’s what?” Great. Let the hovering begin.

Destiny moved and placed her arm around Haven’s shoulder as she turned her away from the closet toward her bed. Destiny patted her back like she would a small child and said in a soothing tone, “No one’s expecting you to go to class today anyhow.”

Haven half expected to get anow, there, there.

“You know you’re freaking me out a little,” Haven said as Destiny pulled her down to sit on the end of the bed while Hope went through her closet.

Destiny frowned at her. “I’m trying to be comforting.”

“Yeah, I know, but…” Haven couldn’t believe she was about to say this. “I think I’d rather have you yelling at me.”

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