Page 147 of Darling Obsession

“Which will match the interior of this limo,” I point out. “I’ve never seen so much neon in my life.”

“Isn’t it awesome?“ drunk Danica says happily.

Honestly, I would’ve rather stayed home tonight, in my jammies, than gone cruising in a party limo and out to a bar. But it’s four days until Christmas, everyone is in the holiday spirit,there’s a big party at Champagne tonight, and Dani rented the limo for us. The girls brought the limo to my place to pick me up, so how could I say no?

They all look gorgeous, and every one of them has pink cheeks.

“I see you’ve already been doing shots,” I remark soberly. There’s an open bottle of Baileys Irish Cream and a bottle of Prosecco in a built-in bin of ice, and they’re all drinking Prosecco from plastic champagne cups. “I’m not saying I’m jealous, but I’m sort of jealous. Not only can I not drink alcohol right now, I’m swelling all over, nothing fits right, and I may throw up before the night is over. Just warning you all.”

“Poor girl.” Nicole pats my knee.

“I can’t wait to be pregnant one day,” Danica says dreamily, as if I somehow made it sound enjoyable. So far, for me, it really hasn’t been. But Danica is quite different from her twin, as in way sweeter, and deeply in love with hertwomen—long story—and I know she’s actually happy for me.

“Well, maybe tonight’s the night for one of us,” Nicole says, and cackles happily when Dani gives her a disturbed look.

“No!” Dani says. “Condoms on cocks, always!”

“Yeah, I could’ve used that reminder a few months back,” I say, and sip my apple juice.

Danica gives me a sympathetic look.

“Ooh, I know!” Nicole has finally found a song, and puts on “Don’t You Want Me.” “This a perfect song for you and your… situation,” she shouts at me over the loud music.

“What situation?” Danica shouts.

“She met Harlan when she was waitressing,” Nicole shouts back. “Listen to the lyrics.”

“What’s going on between you two?” Danica shouts at me. We aren’t super close, but I know Dani tells her some things, even if I don’t. And I think Danica is the only one of mygirlfriends who thinks Harlan is a great idea. But then again, she hasn’t met him yet.

Even Nicole has become real iffy about Team Harlan, ever since he knocked me up and I told her about all the mood swings. His, not mine.

“I don’t even know,” I say, and when I see she can’t quite hear me, I shout, “I don’t know!”

I’m now wondering if a night of super loud music in a bar, surrounded by drunk people, is a bad idea for the baby.

Should I even be going out tonight?

“Why are we sitting here so long?” Dani yells. She’s trying to look out the windows, but they’re heavily tinted. We’ve barely gotten rolling from my place, but she’s right, we’ve been sitting still for a while. “We’re not even at an intersection…”

The words are barely out of her mouth when the door next to her flies open. The girls all draw back, startled, and “Don’t You Want Me” spills out into the night.

And there stands Harlan.

He wears his usual black suit, without a tie, and when he leans down to look into the limo, the expression on his face is murderous.

“What areyoudoing here?” Dani shouts.

“Wait!” Nicole scrambles to turn down the music, so we can all hear this. “Okay, proceed.”

“This is ladies’ night,” Dani informs him at a more reasonable volume. “No men are allowed in this limo.”

“Except the driver,” Danica adds politely.

“And unless we pick them up at a bar,” Nicole stage-whispers.

“I won’t be picking up anyone at a bar,” Danica says earnestly.

“It’s standard ladies’ night rules,” Nicole informs Harlan. “Also, you look nice. I like your suit.”

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