Chapter 7 #2
Constance leaned over and whispered, “Does Matteo know that she’s a sociopath?”
“By now? Probably,” I said, now loving the woman because I realized she wasn’t about to cry because she was sympathetic; it was because she was trying not to laugh at Bella’s antics. “What does it say about you that you can recognize it?”
“I was raised by one,” Constance whispered. She wrinkled her nose before she said, “Although it seems like Bella uses her powers for good and not evil most of the time, so she’s okay in my book.”
“Good, because crazy or not, she’s one of my best friends, and if you give her any shit, I’ll have to kill you.”
Constance nodded before she said, “I get that.”
“This doesn’t happen to me very often, so I’m not sure I’m reading the signs correctly, but did we just become friends?”
Constance burst out laughing and said, “I think so.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“I’m out of practice, so I’m not sure what she’s planning.”
“If she’s about to play a practical joke on them, then I’m going to give her a ten out of ten for the lead-up. Her act is extraordinary!”
“No,” Teague said as she sat down next to me on the couch. “She wants something.”
A slow grin took over Constance’s face, and she laughed softly before she asked, “Has she mentioned the photographer to you guys yet?”
“No. I assumed there would be one, but the way you asked that makes me think there’s something more to it.”
“She’s doing such a good job that I’m gonna let her tell it. I really want to see the show.”
“Well, shit,” I muttered.
At the same time, Teague said, “I’m going to go play in traffic in the hopes I get put in traction just so I don’t have to be part of this.”
Rain, who had been blocking my line of sight to Bella, leaned forward to hug her, and I finally saw Bella’s face as she looked at me over Rain’s shoulder.
When Teague and I stared at her blankly, she narrowed her eyes and then made them really wide - as if that was supposed to scare us or something.
But, just like Constance said, Bella was putting on a good show, so I was going to let her play it through.
The others were eventually able to console Bella, and she finally blurted out why she’d turned on the waterworks. I was a little disappointed in her finale, but everyone’s reaction to her news was awesome!
“So, you know that Matteo’s family is really well known in New York, and even though he hates being in the spotlight, the paparazzi always finds a way to get pictures somehow, so I thought that I would hire a professional photographer and release the pictures of the wedding to a magazine.
It will cut the slimeballs off at the knees, and put us in the next issue!
” Bella sucked in a big breath before she asked, “Isn’t that exciting?
” Lark, Rain, Cydney, and Zoey all took a step back - and they did it in such perfect sync it was like they’d practiced the move. “What do you think?”
I started a slow clap a millisecond before Stan and Teague joined in. Bella glared at us, but all I could do was laugh before I yelled, “Bravo!”
“That crying shit was all to get us to agree, wasn’t it?” Lark asked.
When Bella nodded, Cydney sighed and said, “You’re getting really good at that.”
“She is. I almost bought it!” Rain said in exasperation. “Damn, girl. Where were those acting chops when we got arrested?”
“Acting wouldn’t have helped. They had us on video,” Bella reminded them.
“True,” Lark agreed. “I have to admit you got me on this one, though. Solid effort.”
“Thank you,” Bella said primly.
“They know it was an act, and they’re okay with it?” Constance asked.
Cydney answered her question for me when she said, “You should work on making your lower lip quiver. I never mastered that, but God knows it works for Turner every time he does it.”
“I thought that would be laying it on a bit thick.” Bella tilted her head and said, “I also thought that if I fed you a line of bullshit, you might fall for it when emotions were high.”
And then the fireworks started.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You know what sort of shit we went through when the fucking press got wind that Lucky and Stan were together, and you want me to feed those sharks pictures of us on a golden platter?” Rain roared and stomped back to the dais so the poor confused seamstress could get back to work.
“I’m all in,” Zoey announced as she sat back down on the chair where she’d left her phone. “If the reporter is on your side, imagine what kind of press that will give The Flower Patch. I’ll take the good press, but they can have your ass, Bella. I’m done with you, and we’re never speaking again.”
“That’s going to be difficult since our lives are so intertwined, but I would actually welcome a little less whining from your end, so I’ll go with it.”
“That’s it. I’m killing all of your flowers. You can carry dollar-store bouquets and have them front and center in your photo shoot.”
“I’m still confused about the dynamics here,” Constance whispered. “They’re not angry?”
“They probably didn’t believe her in the first place.
They were just playing along in case it was real,” Teague explained.
“Now they’ve got ammo in their arsenal to throw back at her when she wants something, and they’re going to make her beg before they agree to be in some magazine they don’t give a shit about anyway. ”
“If they’re putting me in the magazine, then they’re going to have to mention SummerSnax,” Lark announced.
Rain’s seamstress, finished with her first pinning, walked toward the back . . . probably to whisper with the other employees about how fucking nuts all these women were. Rain walked to the middle of the room and twirled around before she said, “How do I look?”
When everyone started showering her with compliments, she spun again and curtsied before she said, “I’ll be in the photo shoot and say whatever you want, but I’m only doing it because I love you, Bella.”
“Suck-up,” Zoey muttered as she stomped toward Rain. “I’ll do it, too, but not because I like you.”
“Same,” Cydney said as she got up to go change. “However, if you want me to say nice things, that will require money . . . lots and lots of money.”
After all the other women agreed, including Teague, Bella looked at me and asked, “Jan, what do you think?”
“I think I hate your face for making me wear a dress and flit around on some hot guy’s arm when I’d really rather be napping. The shit about the magazine barely even makes a ripple in the pool of rage you’ll have to navigate to get me to ever speak to you nicely again.”
“Yay! We’re all in!” Bella cheered as she practically skipped across the room toward me. She put her hand out and said, “Come on. Your fitting is up next. When they’re done with you, I’ll make sure you get a nap.”
“You’d better,” I growled as I stood up and glared at her.
As I walked past Constance toward the dressing room, I heard her whisper, “Sucker!”
I flipped her off over my shoulder and smiled as I kept walking. I had a good feeling about Constance. She was going to fit right in with our family, which was a good thing since she’d officially joined the Tempests and would be around a lot.
“I love you, Janis!” Bella called out from behind me.
“We all love you, sweetheart,” Lark teased. “Come give me a smooch.”
“Don’t start with me again, hags. Go after Stan. She needs a proper welcome to the family,” I suggested.
Constance was bouncing in her chair excitedly. “Yes! Do me! I can’t wait to make all of you cry, but there will be actual tears this time. Maybe even sobbing.”
I giggled when I heard Cydney cheerfully reply, “Challenge accepted.”