Page 10 of The Snowflake Effect

“Nagging? Shay, how many times did I tell you to dump Richard? How many times did I tell you he was sucking the woman I love dry?” When I don’t answer, she turns to Lily. “Sorry it was harsh, but I love you ladies too much to stay quiet, and I don’t think you’re still in love with Kevin. But I digress. Tonight, us ladies have a golden opportunity.” She quirks up an eyebrow. “I believe there’s a party in need of crashing.”

Lily’s eyes flick to the peep show, then back to Raven. “God, no.”

“Oh, yes.”

“You’re nuts. What if they’re mass murderers?”

“They stopped to make sure you were okay today,” Raven says. “And the smaller one trudged halfway up the hill to get you your pole. They were nice guys, and our girl here needs a pick-me-up. You sold this trip to Shay by telling her it was the best way to start fresh and get over the Dick. Love that name, by the way,” she says to me, then focuses on Lily. “The hotness in there is her ticket. Do you want to deny her that?”

“But there’s only two guys,” I say before Lily can reply. “And what if they have girlfriends?”

“The worst they can do is send us packing, and Lily already said she’s standing by her man, so…”

“There’s a third!” Lily points and jumps before reining herself in. “Not that it means anything. Just, I could have someone to hang out with. Platonically. And talk to, you know, while you two do your thing. I’m not, like, interested.”

I scan the interior but don’t see this mysterious third. “Where is he?”

Lily cranes her neck. “He walked into the room, then turned back toward the hallway.”

“Was he cute?” I ask.

“Very. Kind of like the smaller guy but with longer hair pulled back, and he looks like he spends more time at the gym. But not as massive as the big guy.”

The three of us fidget for another minute, dancing on the spot to keep warm. A slow smile lights each of our faces as we silently agree to be wild and crazy for the night. I squeal and grab their hands, thrilled I don’t have to go to sleep and dread tomorrow.

Tonight, proper, poised, and perfect are out the window.

Tonight, I embody the red bra.

When we get to the door, Raven reaches up to knock but pauses. “You ladies sure?” We nod, but she lowers her hand. “Shay, since this trip is in your honor, you should do the deed.”

She walks behind me, grabs my hips, and positions me in front of the door—the entryway housing three hot guys, one of whom might get to see my new lingerie.

As I lift my arm, Raven says, “Wait.”

Lily and I flip around with a simultaneous “What?”

“I call dibs on the big guy.”

I snort. “Shocker. Anything else?”

Raven shakes her head, but as I spin around to knock, Lily says, “We need a signal.”

With a huff, I turn my back to the door again. “Like what? If Raven and I are about to hook up, we flash an image of a condom instead of the bat-signal?”

Lily rolls her eyes. “No. If one of us wants out or, I don’t know, feels uncomfortable, we should have a sign that we want to leave.”

“Okay, sure.” Raven smirks. “If a guy puts the moves on you, or doesn’t put the moves on me or Shay, and we get bored, we make the sound of a dying giraffe.”

We stare at each other, lips pulled tight to keep from laughing, until we lose it. Raven cackles, Lily shrieks, and I bend forward in a fit of giggles as we remember the South Park movie Raven forced us to watch during high school. Five times.

“No, seriously,” I say, my cheeks warm from laughing. “Lily’s right. We don’t know those guys. If anyone feels weird, then just say something like ‘I forgot my credit card at the restaurant.’”

“Done,” Raven says. “Let’s do this.”

We share wicked grins as I flip around, my pulse ticking in my ears. I fist my hand and prepare to live in the moment. Thump thump thump goes my heart, each heavy beat deafening.

“Go on. Do it,” Lily says from behind me, her impulsiveness catchy.