Page 19 of Forever To Me

Emma says, “Self-care is never useless. You have hard-working hands. They need to be extra pampered.”

“Maybe Ollie will like them,” Cami teases.

Poppy gives her a look and quirks a brow, “Want to discuss your morning rides?”

“Nope,” Cami says, shaking her head and looking straight ahead.

“That’s what I thought,” Poppy smirks.

Teresa seems to have moved on to another conversation with someone else, letting whatever she has with Cami go for now. I think I’ll get my hair and nails done more often. I like this place.

After my hair is freshly blown out in big curls and my nails are done, I feel like a million bucks. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

“What are you wearing tonight for girls’ night?” Cami asks.

“Wear something sexy,” Emma adds.

“You’re coming, right?” Poppy adds.

“I didn’t know there was a girl's night,” I add, not wanting to intrude on their plans.

“A bunch of us are meeting at the Black Dog for drinks and dinner,” Poppy says. “You have to come.”

I close my eyes and resist groaning when she mentions it will be at the Black Dog.

Maggie looks over and says, “You’re going. Don’t even think about trying to get out of it.”

I’m thrilled to be included with them and hopefully make some cool new friends. No one tells you how hard it is to make friends when you’re older. It’s a tough world out there, y’all. I can’t wait to get to know them more.

Of course, wanting to see him again is a bonus, and if I were in a group of people, maybe it wouldn’t be as embarrassing. Maybe he won’t even notice me. I love going out and having fun. And getting dressed up is even better. Plus, I have great hair now and an excuse to go out.

I think about what I have in my bag I can wear, and then I smile. “I know just what I’ll wear.”

And it will be for Walker. As an apology of course.

Chapter 8

Violet

Itake my time putting on my makeup and fluffing my hair, which fills me with a new confidence I haven’t had for a while. In fact, I can’t remember when I last felt good like this without looking over my shoulder at someone telling me I need to look and dress a certain way and knocking me down repeatedly.

A knock at my door has me quickly finishing up my bright red lipstick and dropping it in my purse as I stroll over to open it.

Cami grins at me, her hair pulled up in a high sleek ponytail. “Well, look at you, hot stuff.”

She must be the most naturally beautiful woman with her dark almond eyes and high cheekbones. Her makeup is beautifully applied, but she probably doesn’t even need it. She’s gorgeous.

“You look pretty great yourself.” Cami has on tight jeans and a black halter top that shows off her ample cleavage, and her expertly done smoky eye and cat eye liner I’d kill for the precision to do perfectly. Everything about Cami screams strong black cat energy, and I really like her.

“Thanks, and you’ll have to play some songs for us.” She points to the guitar case in the corner. “We could use some live music down at the Black Dog. It gets boring in there with that old jukebox Walker refuses to update. Do you play professionally or just for fun?” she asks as she sits in one of the chairs and crosses her long legs.

“Umm, for fun, I guess.” I shrug. That part of my life isn’t there anymore, and I don’t feel like explaining it to anyone. It’s humiliating, and I’m just not going there. Ever. Music will just be for me now until I figure out what to do with my life.

Luckily, she chats with me all the way to the Black Dog about music that we both like.

We walk in and head to the back where the ladies have already begun to gather around a big table.

“Hey, everyone.” I smile and slide up next to Poppy on a stool.

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