CHAPTER 8: GIRLS' NIGHT OUT
1124 Words
GIADA
I’ve always wanted to be one of those women who knows how to apply flawless makeup and is bold with the looks they create, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. Some liquid liner, blush, mascara and a nude lipstick is about all I can manage.
“So you and Charlie, eh? What’s going on there?” I say to Valentina as I start applying liner in her bedroom.
Valentina pops her head out of the bathroom and feigns ignorance, but I’m not fooled. I saw the way they behaved at the mausoleum, the way she tried to protect Charlie when he got into it with Bauer.
“How long have you two been together?”
“We’re not together,” she mumbles.
“Okay, so how long have you been sleeping together?”
She groans quietly. “I don’t know a few years off and on?”
“s**t, Val. That’s serious then.”
“Nothing with Charlie is serious. We just lean on each other when things get crazy.”
Valentina isn’t someone who tolerates bullshit of any kind so I never would’ve imagined her sleeping around with Charlie, the most notorious playboy I know. But that was so long ago and things have obviously changed. I keep reminding myself that things that were true five years ago aren’t necessarily true now.
“I don’t want you getting hurt, Val,” I blurt out.
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
She walks out of the washroom and notices we’re practically wearing the same thing. She’s in a black lace crop top and faux leather pants and I’m wearing a black lace bodysuit with a faux leather mini skirt.
“Are you kidding me?” she complains walking to her closet. “Matching outfits stopped being cute when we were ten.”
I shrug, secretly pleased that we still do strange things like dress the same. It’s comforting considering we’re not completely okay. I know it’s going to take more than a few days for her to get over years of silence on my part.
I fix a few strands of hair with the curling iron. Nude strappy sandals in hand, I make my way downstairs to call an Uber. We’re meeting Shada and Jacqueline out for a night of dancing.
A few minutes later, Valentina comes down in a red crop top and skin-tight black pants that show off her lean, long legs. The red looks great against her tanned skin and chocolate shoulder-length locks.
“The Uber should be here soon,” I say.
“What’s the point of having magic if you’re not going to use it?”
“I don’t like abusing it and possibly pissing off the Goddess.”
“Since when are you so paranoid? She blessed you with the power for a reason.”
“Not paranoid, just cautious. If your life was as messy as mine has been, you’d be too.”
***************
The club is full. Music is blasting and the upbeat energy of the place is exactly what I’m looking for tonight.
“Giada, you are too pretty!” Shada gushes. She’s looking really pretty herself in a white spaghetti strap bodycon dress.
“I can’t believe you just had twins a few weeks ago. You look unbelievable!” Valentina says to Jacqueline. “Sorry, I haven’t been by to see the babies yet,” she adds.
“It’s okay! Want to see some pictures of them?”
It’s Jacqueline’s first time away from the babies. I know she’s excited to be out, but I can feel she’s also a bit down about it.
“Does Luke have them tonight?” Valentina asks.
“No, my mom took them for the night.”
“Does that mean you’ll be trying for pup number four when you get home?” I tease.
“Oh hell no! This factory is closed, girl! Plus, I’m still healing from pushing out eleven pound pups. Nothing is going down tonight.”
I wince and instinctively close my legs. “I could probably help you out with that, you know?”
“Really?” she asks excitedly.
“And that doesn’t count as abusing your powers?” Valentina asks laughing.
“Nope, that counts as helping people. Two very horny people.”
Shada and Valentina laugh and Jacqueline doesn’t even try to deny it.
“Talking about horny wolves...I’m surprised your mates let you both leave the house looking like that,” Valentina smirks.
“They didn’t see us,” Shada giggles.
“The guys are meeting with a neighboring pack about the rogue attacks,” Jacqueline explains.
“Still?” Valentina turns to me, “I went to help after the last attack but I couldn’t get anything off of the dead wolves. It’s bizarre. There’s definitely magic involved.”
“Are other packs experiencing the same thing?” I question.
“No just the Blue Moon Pack and ours. They’re closest to us. We’re thinking it might be our land they’re after since we share a border,” Jacqueline adds.
“Okay ladies! That’s enough pack talk. I want to drink and dance!” Shada shouts over the music and we all get up.
“Did you ask them to come?” I point towards the entrance where Sebastian, Lucius and Christian are now standing.
Jacqueline shakes her head and checks her phone. Shada does the same.
“They didn’t message us or anything,” Shada says.
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t have been able to get far without them,” I sigh.
“That’s not fair, Gia.” Jacqueline says sadly.
“I just want to let loose and have a girls' night. They already hijacked the last one.”
Jacqueline gives me a sympathetic nod but there’s not much she can do so I decide to head to the bar. It’s not that I don’t like Lucius and Christian, I do. I just feel we should be able to have a night out to enjoy ourselves without them around.
- Writer
