Page 3 of Pierced Pages
“I’m going to this thing for Kim. End of story,” she said, swiping on lipstick and mascara. No time for a full round of makeup. “And she’ll be a little busy celebrating with her wife.”
“My offer to go with you still stands.” Jen stood and held out the dress she’d adopted from the pile. “I have something to wear now.”
Morgan had invited Jen the minute she’d found out about the ceremony. Jen had been happy to go with her, but Morgan knew her back was bothering her after a long ink session earlier that afternoon.
“You’re still welcome to come if you’d like,” Morgan said. “Really. But I don’t plan on staying long. I’ll be fine either way. You should rest.”
“If you’re sure,” Jen said. “I only have plans with my fuzzy socks, a heating pad, and reality garbage.”
“The best garbage.” Morgan hurried into the closet and grabbed her all-purpose black flats. “But you’d better not watch our show without me.”
They’d made a routine of watching this new dating show together on Sundays, the one day the shop was closed. It was just them, a bowl of popcorn, and Reginald for an hour. Morgan’s favorite time of the week. It was the one constant in her life besides work. For everything else, she preferred to wing it.
Jen smiled. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I’ll be ready and waiting for the next episode tomorrow.”
Morgan looked down at herself and smoothed the front of her clothes, sweater in one hand. “Am I missing anything?”
She felt like a wreck most days, and it was a rare one when she didn’t forgetsomething.
Jen folded the dress over one arm and grabbed Morgan with the other, ushering her toward the front of the apartment. “Only missing your keys, wallet, and phone.”
Morgan scooped those from her dinette table. “Check, check, and check.”
After a quick glance at the time, she realized she was going to be later than she’d planned. Even later than normal for her.
“It’ll be fine,” Jen said, pushing her toward the front door and following her outside. “Have a good time and text me later about all the fun I’m skipping out on.”
Morgan scoffed as she locked the front door behind them. “Fun. Sure.”
Chapter 2
Danielle
Kool and the Gang blasted from the DJ’s speakers at the opposite end of the reception hall. The space was on the small side, but it was the perfect size for this event. The only negative of the evening so far was the decibel level hovering just above Danielle’s tolerance threshold.
“Holding up over here?”
A hand landed on her shoulder as her coworker’s bubbly expression appeared at her side. Gerri was wearing a golden-yellow A-line dress that looked stunning against her dark brown skin. She’d paired it with large gold hoops, and her cropped hair showed off her long, elegant neck.
“Fine so far,” Danielle said. “Although I could use some earplugs. The music’s fine. It’s the volume that’s going to give me a migraine in the morning.”
“Same.” Gerri looked toward the DJ setup on the stage. “Think we should tell him?”
“Noooo.” Danielle’s anxiety kicked up a notch just at the thought of interrupting someone’s job and telling them what to do. “I couldn’t. Besides, that’s Melanie’s call. And her lovely wife’s.”
“Okay, but when I miss my morning run due to this inevitable migraine, I’m coming find you to run with me later in the day.”
It wasn’t a completely dramatic statement. Gerrie and Danielle often commiserated when either of them had to suffer through a school day with a migraine. It was a crappy thing to have in common, but it was nice having someone understand her pain.
There was one thing in that statement, however, that they didn’t share.
“You know I don’t run unless someone’s chasing me.”
“I’ve seen you run plenty,” Gerri said. “Every time that little girl needs you.”
A wave of warmth ran through her at the mention of her daughter. Although at thirteen-years-old, even Danielle had to admit she wasn’t so little anymore. But she’d always be her little girl.
“Kind of my job.”
