“Hello, ladies.” I grin as I approach them. They greet me with immediate warmth.
They weren’t lying when they said the Montgomerys are a welcoming family.
“I’m so glad you texted me,” Sam says. “I love Leo’s music, and I enjoy studio time, but it’s been a long day over there.”
“Cupcakes usually fix that,” Nic says. “You look wonderful, Izzy.”
“Thank you, I feel wonderful. I got a job today.” I tell them all about my new job here in Seattle as a meteorologist, and when I’m finished, they each offer me high-fives.
“That’s so cool,” Sam says.
“I need to shop,” I admit. “I need a whole new wardrobe for this. And I don’t know where to go.”
Sam and Nic share a look, and then Sam reaches for her phone. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this covered.” She taps on the screen and then puts the phone on speaker as it rings.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Nat, I’m here with Nic and Izzy. You remember Izzy from Stasia’s party?”
“Of course! Hi, guys.”
“Hi,” Nic and I say in unison.
“Listen,” Sam continues, “we have a wardrobe emergency.”
“Does this require shopping?” Nat asks.
“Of course, it does.”
“I’m your girl,” Nat replies. “I can have a sitter here in thirty minutes.”
“We’re going to need Jules, too,” Sam adds. “We’ll meet you at her office.”
“Whoa, this is some emergency,” Nat says.
“It’s a Defcon One,” Sam agrees. “See you soon.”
“I can’t go.” Nic sighs sadly. “I have to sell cupcakes.”
“Your job is important,” Sam assures her. “And I need three of the chocolate. I’ll take a dozen assorted over to the studio, as well.”
“And for you?” Nic asks. “You have to celebrate with a cupcake.”
“I want a chocolate, a strawberry, and I want to try the funfetti.”
“I really like her,” Sam says to Nic with a grin as Nic fills our order. When we’re loaded down with our sweets, we leave the bakery and walk across the street to the studio.
“Hey,” Sam greets Leo as we walk in. “You’re not recording?”
“I needed a break. They’re driving me nuts. But you brought me cupcakes.”
“You have to share with everyone,” Sam warns him.
“Like hell.” Leo opens the box and bites into a lemon, then smiles at me. “Hey there, Iz.”
No one has called me Iz since I arrived, and I have to admit, I don’t hate it coming from Leo’s sexy mouth.
“Hi, Leo.”
“I have to go help Izzy shop for a wardrobe for her new job. We’re going with Nat and Jules.”
“What’s the new job?” he asks me.
“I’ll be reporting the weather for a local news station.”
His eyes light up. “No shit? That’s fucking awesome. I’m practically related to a weather girl. Good job, Iz.”
“Thanks.” I feel my cheeks flush. Leo Nash is praising me and looking at me like he’s proud of me, and I feel sixteen all over again.
But Keegan’s ten-times hotter. Leo’s sexy as all get out, but my man is incredible. And I can’t wait to see him.
“Okay, we have to run. See you at home later.” Sam forgets to kiss Leo, and he catches her wrist and tugs her into his arms. The kiss he plants on her is hot with a capital H.
“Have fun, sunshine.”
She smiles, brushes a piece of hair off her cheek, and we head out.
“He still gives me butterflies,” she mutters when we’re out the door. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
“I totally get it. And not because of Leo, but because of Keegan.”
She turns surprised blue eyes over to me. “Well, that’s awesome.”
“Yeah, it’s better than awesome.”
“Good for you. A new man and a new job.”
“A new life.”
“Attagirl.”
“Holy shit, you guys can shop.”
We’ve finished with our shopping spree and are grabbing a glass of wine and a light dinner before we go our separate ways.
“It’s our best skill,” Jules agrees. “But you have to look your best on Saturday.”
“Absolutely,” Nat chimes in.
“I still can’t believe everything I was able to get on my budget.”
“The Rack and Saks Off Fifth are lifesavers,” Sam says. “You can get so much there for a fraction of the cost. And you look amazing in everything you got. I totally covet your tits.”
“You have really good boobs,” Natalie agrees.
“I had to buy mine,” Jules says. “So, I’m jealous, too.”
I laugh and take a bite of a crab cake. “You guys are good for my ego.”
“Okay, you’ve told us all about the new job. Tell us more about the man. We’ve all met Keegan several times, and he’s super nice, but also a bit quiet.” Jules sips her wine. “Spill it.”
“Use all the dirty words,” Nat agrees.
I can’t stop laughing at these girls. “You guys are fun. Well, he’s hot.”
“Does he have a big penis?” Sam asks.
“Yes.”
“Right on.” Jules gives me a fist bump.
“He’s also really nice.” I tell them how he just took me in after I left Troy, and how I didn’t have a choice but to fall in love with him.
He’s everything.
“You have balls, girl. It takes some guts to know what you do and don’t want and walk out of a wedding like that.”
“I felt like a coward,” I admit.
“No way,” Nat says. “You did what you needed to do to be safe and to stand up for yourself. There is nothing cowardly about that. And I hope my daughters would do the same thing.”
“And now you have this incredible life that you’ve made for yourself,” Jules adds. “A great guy, a family who’s accepted you and loves you, and this killer new job.”
“And some awesome new friends,” I remind them all. “Thank you for helping me today. I had a blast.”
“If you ever want to shop or eat or talk about boys, we’re your girls.” Natalie glances at her phone. “And Luke says hi.”
“Nate texted, too. Stella’s staying with my parents tonight, and he’s taking me out on a date.”
“You all landed some hot men yourselves.”
“Hell yes, we did, honey,” Sam says. “And it’s damn awesome.”
The only bad thing about living on an island is that it takes so long to get home when you’re anxious to get there.
I swear, the ferry was extra slow this evening.
I’m excited to tell everyone the good news, but I want to tell Keegan first.
When I walk through the back door, I can hear that things are in full swing in the pub. So, I haul all of my bags upstairs and dump them onto the bed. They’re damn heavy.