Page 83 of Beautiful Defiance

When Rue calls time, we sputter laughter.

“Well?”

“Um, no love. You?”

“Totally in love.” He moves in for a kiss. I cover my mouth with my palm. His lips kiss the top of my hand. I shove him away with my free hand.

I uncover my mouth. “You’re such a flirt.”

“Can’t say I didn’t try. Anyway, I’m prepping you for what’s coming later tonight. Looking as hot as you do in that short-as-fuck dress, you’re gonna get hit on.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“That’s my girl.” Dare sticks out his fist. We fist bump. “Okay, ladies, ready to get this show on the road?”

“Ready.” Rue waves her hand. She’s holding on to her phone. Her screen lights up. A notification.

She looks at her phone.

“Shit.”

“What?” I ask.

“Trace follows me on Insta. He liked this post.” She holds up her phone in front of my face.

The picture is a wide shot of Dare with his fingers in my hair. His other hand is on my hip.

“It’s a good picture,” I say.

“That’s not the problem. Trace shared the post. Guess who follows him?”

“I doubt he cares.”

“Leigh, he beat the shit out of Shay for showing you his magic trick.”

“Who beat who over a magic trick? Was it a good trick? Will Riley like it?”

We all look at Midnight.

He flips the hood of his hoodie over his head, looking like a thug. “What?” He nods at the door. “Come on. The quicker we get this done, the faster we can get to the fun stuff.”

“Fun stuff?” I shouldn’t have asked.

Midnight tilts his head back at the winding staircase. “Have you seen Princess Diaries, Leigh?”

“Heard of it. Not my kind of movie.”

“No kidding?”

“None.”

He rubs his hands together. There’s a shit-eating grin on his face. Crap.

“Well, you see, there’s this kickass slumber party, and the princess and her friends take turns going down the stairs riding atop a mattress.”

“What’s so fun about that?”

Red, Rue, and Dare shout, “We go down naked!”

The unnamed condition I agreed to when Rue said Midnight and Dare are more than willing to help.

My scars.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

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