Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Junie sat cross-legged on the living room floor in her softest pajamas, the bright purple clay mask slowly tightening across her cheeks and pulling at the skin around her eyes.
The whole room smelled like strawberry sugar scrub, vanilla candles, and the faint buttery scent of the third bag of microwave popcorn Kenzie had popped tonight.
“I’m telling you,” Kenzie said, waving her nail polish brush like a conductor’s baton, “from the way you’ve described it, that kiss was not a ‘just friends’ kiss. That was a ‘you’re mine’ kiss.”
Heat flooded Junie’s face beneath the mask. She hugged her knees tighter to her chest, trying desperately to hide the ridiculous smile that kept tugging at her lips. He’d said, “wish granted,” and given her that deep and hungry kiss, like he couldn’t stop himself.
And he did it right in front of God and everybody. Well, in front of Cherry anyway. Junie couldn’t have scripted it better herself. Her stomach still fluttered every time the memory played through her mind. “Did I tell you guys about how Cherry looked when she walked in on Tanner kissing me?”
“Yes!” Kenzie and Poppy cried out together.
“Like five times.” Kenzie rolled her eyes.
Like Junie hadn’t listened to Kenzie wax on for hours about Seven Midnight. “There’s no need to be nasty. It’s worth telling five times.”
“You got us there.” Poppy let out a dreamy sigh from the couch. Her green face mask made her look like a slightly terrifying alien. “That is so romantic. And hot. Mostly hot. And of course, when you throw Cherry being there to witness the whole thing,.. it’s very satisfying.”
Disney Sing-Along played softly in the background, coloring books lay scattered across the coffee table, bowls of candy and popcorn sat everywhere, and half-painted nails dried on paper towels. This was exactly the kind of night she needed after the emotional rollercoaster of the last few days.
Still, her thoughts kept drifting back to Tanner.
The way his hand had cupped the back of her neck.
The way his body had felt pressed against hers.
The low, rough sound he made when he finally pulled away.
She wanted so badly to believe Kenzie was right.
She wanted to let herself hope. But hoping was so dangerous.
Wish granted.
Junie could still hear the sexy tone of his voice. She shivered. Was it possible?
Kenzie leaned over and bumped her shoulder. “You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” Junie admitted, voice small. “I just… I’ve wanted him for so long. And been disappointed so many times. Do you think I’m reading too much into it? What if he was just caught up in the moment?”
Poppy snorted. “Sweetie, that man has been looking at you like you hung the moon and stars for years. He’s just been slow on the uptake.
I think it’s because you were friends for so long.
And it doesn’t help that you’re besties with his little sister.
I’ve heard it can be really hard to make the shift from friends to lovers.
At least, it is in all the romance books. ”
Junie pressed her face mask down at the edges. “Maybe. But you know, I’ve never thought of him as just a friend. I’ve loved him since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to be special to him.”
Kenzie hugged Junie close. “You have always been special to him. But the way people are special can change over time. Sometimes I think it’s better to start off as friends, you know? Like that old movie, When Harry Met Sally.”
“I’ll have whatever she’s having.” Poppy quoted the most memorable line in the movie. If she was trying to lessen the tension, it worked. They all burst out laughing.
“We should watch that tonight,” Junie said. Before she could pick up the remote, her phone rang on the coffee table. The screen lit up with Cherry’s name.
“On second thought, maybe we should watch Wicked.” She turned her phone to her friends so they could see who was calling. Then again, Cherry almost never called her, except to order baked goods.
And never at night.
“I’m gonna answer it.”
“Be careful. Witches can hex people over the phone,” Poppy said, coming to her knees.
“No they can’t!” Kenzie said.
Before World War Three could start, Junie answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Junie? It’s Cherry.”
Now it was Junie’s turn to roll her eyes. Like she could mistake that sugary-sweet voice that always said the meanest things.
“Look, I didn’t know if I should say anything, but…
do you remember when I said that Tanner would get together with me soon?
Well, he’s taking me up on the offer.” The unbridled joy in Cherry’s voice made Junie nauseous.
But Cherry wasn’t done. “I thought you should know, considering that kiss I saw. I told you Tanner could never be really satisfied with someone like you. You really shouldn’t let yourself be used like that.
I’ve tried to warn you. Anyway, I thought it was only fair that you should know I’m playing with Tanner at The Red Barn tonight. ”
Junie’s heart stuttered, and her insides went cold. Cherry lies, she reminded herself.
“Just a minute, Master,” Cherry called to someone. “Junie, are you there? I have to go. Tanner’s at the bar now, having a drink and talking to Roman Midnight. He told me not to call, but I just didn’t feel right about him doing those magically delicious things to me—”
What are you, a box of Lucky Charms?
“—that I know he’s going to do unless I told you first. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re just not in my league, or Tanner’s, for that matter. Bye now.”
Junie put down the phone, staring blankly. She’d never been to The Red Barn, but people talked about it all the time. It was the only private DDlg/BDSM club within easy driving distance. It was members-only, and she wasn’t one. She knew where it was, though. Everyone in Wilder did.
The thought of Tanner being there with another woman, Cherry of all people, made it hard for her to breathe.
Kenzie and Poppy were both watching her with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Kenzie asked, concern filling her eyes.
Junie dropped her gaze, unable to look friends in the eye. She’d just been going on like an idiot about that stupid kiss. She didn’t want to believe it, but what if it hadn’t meant as much to Tanner as it did to her if what Cherry said could be believed… which it couldn’t.
Since no giant eagle swooped down to grab Junie and fly her away, all that was left was to answer Kenzie’s question. “That was Cherry. She said Tanner’s at The Red Barn, and that he wanted to play with her.”
Poppy sat up straight. “That bitch!”
Kenzie leaped to her feet and planted her hands on her hips. “No way is Tanner with her. Believe me, my brother hates that woman as much as we do. She’s just trying to get back at you for having something she can’t have.”
“Of course she is,” Junie agreed. “But it did sound like she was at a bar or club of some sort. And why would she call if she wasn’t there?”
Poppy shook her head. “I can’t believe he’d do anything with her.”
Junie bit her lip. She didn’t want to believe it either. This was her heart on the line.
Cherry was sneaky, and she wanted whatever she thought was Junie’s. But Junie had to be sure. There was only one way to find out. “Are you two thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Are you thinking of drowning your sorrows in Rocky Road ice cream?” Poppy asked.
“Of course she isn’t!” Kenzie said. “Come on. Let’s get ready and go! We’ll have to get all dolled up and get our sexiest outfits on.”
Junie bit her lip. “You guys will be in a lot of trouble if you go down there. Think about it, Kenzie. If Tanner is down there, do you really believe he’ll just say hi and let you strut around in a sexy outfit?”
Kenzie looked up and put a finger under her chin, tilting her head to one side as if giving the question serious consideration.
Then she grinned and said, “Don’t know, don’t care.
You are not going down there alone. Besides, if we all go down there dressed sexy and fine, I’m thinking that I’m not the one he’s going to be looking at. ”
“We’re coming with you,” Poppy said firmly.
And that was why Kenzie and Poppy were her besties. “Okay, it’s a free country. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Poppy was grinning way too much for Junie not to be suspicious. “Okay, Poppy,” she demanded, “what are you so happy about?”
“If we’re right and Cherry is just yanking your chain, I was just picturing what Tanner’s reaction will be to you showing up dressed all sexy.”
It was Junie’s turn to swallow hard.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Junie said, pretending her stomach didn’t fill with butterflies at the very thought.
Forty-five minutes later, the three of them stood outside The Red Barn. The main floor was the usual rowdy country bar—loud music, line dancing, the smell of beer and fried food. But Junie’s eyes kept drifting toward the stairs leading down.
Junie’s stomach was in knots. This was such a bad idea. What was she going to do if she saw Tanner with Cherry?
Junie glanced down at the outfit her friends had insisted she wear.
She’d never dressed like this before in her life.
The blush pink babydoll dress was stretchy and semi-sheer, barely skimming the tops of her thighs.
She slept in pajamas that covered her more than this did.
Add to that the white thigh-high stockings with the tiny pink bows, the soft leather ankle boots, and the thin leather choker with the dangling heart, and she looked like she’d stepped out of a Sailor Moon cartoon.
She was really counting on the fact that, as long as she stood by her friends Barn Kitten and Strawberry Shortcake, no one would give her a second glance.
At the bottom of the stairs, a serious-looking man with a tag that read “Dungeon Master” stopped them. “Sorry, ladies. This is a members-only club. And I would remember if you three were members.”
“Oh, well,” Poppy said. “I guess we’ll just have to go home.”