Chapter 21 Girls Night
GIRLS NIGHT
Ember
We were all sitting in a circle on a pile of blankets in Aspen’s living room.
Pizza and Chinese food had been ordered, I’d brought an array of pastries and wine, Ivy had brought ingredients for mimosas for the hangover in the morning, along with popcorn and peanut M&Ms. Not to mention my bagels that Rowan insisted upon when he found out we were planning this—for the morning after.
The man himself walked down the steps and walked over, kissing Aspen on the forehead. “Now you three, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Aspen rolled her eyes with a smile.
“Go away. Girl time. Don’t you and your brothers have manly trouble to go and create?
” Aspen asked with a smirk that only spoke of a never-ending love for the man in front of her, but mixed with the knowledge that she knew he was always up to no good when it came to plotting and scheming with his siblings.
Rowan went wide-eyed, and a pretend look of shock overcame his face.
“I can’t believe you’d say such a thing, little angel.
I would never.” He smiled and kissed her once more.
“Kidding, obviously. I’ll be over at Oliver’s with Wyatt and Theo if you need me.
We’re having beers and such. I’ll see you in the morning. ”
“Wait, what’s Payton doing tonight?” Ivy asked.
“Working sadly. I did offer to let her come over once she was done with her shift, but she apparently had other plans. Girl has been crazy vague on her plans when she’s not with us, but I’m trying not to be an overbearing new sister,” Aspen stated.
She kissed Rowan one more time, and he left, locking the door behind him.
We all got comfortable, and Aspen turned on Legally Blonde, one of all of our favorites, before they both turned and looked at me.
“Okay, spill,” Ivy said gleefully. My eyes bounced between the two of them, and their expressions couldn’t look any more different.
Aspen appeared nervous as she fussed with her cuticles absentmindedly, while Ivy was physically bouncing in her seat.
“Do I just start at the beginning? It’s been a long fucking time since I dished all my secrets to a group of girls.
” I pulled the blanket up on me further as I pulled my knees towards my chest and leaned my back against the couch.
They both nodded, and I released a deep breath.
I could do this. They loved me, and they wouldn’t judge me for this.
I repeated the mantra three times before I finally got up the nerve to start speaking.
“Okay, so about two months ago, I was in the middle of a yoga class and—”
“You go to yoga classes and don’t invite us?” Ivy interrupted.
“I’ve never been to a yoga class,” Aspen added.
I felt my cheeks heat, but I smiled all the same. “Every Wednesday morning, I go to yoga and then brunch with my mother. You’re more than welcome to join any of the above, but my mother is a handful, so be warned.”
“Oh we’re so in!” Ivy added excitedly as Aspen nodded in agreement. “Okay, sorry. Go on.”
I nodded and took a quick drink of my wine before I dove back into storytelling mode.
“Okay, so the girls beside me started talking about this app they’d heard about.
Apparently, it was like a hook-up app through the sex club over in Sapphire Cove, Silk and Spice?
” They both nodded, looking no less intrigued than before.
No looks of disgust crossed their faces for even a moment, which gave me a bit of courage to continue.
“The same day, I went to lunch with my mom, and she started in on how I needed to get my life together and stop working so much, whatever. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had applied to join the beta test group before the app launches. To my surprise that night, I was accepted.”
Both their eyes widened, and Ivy let out a small gasp. “What?! That’s so fun! What is it like? Can I see? Did you match up with anyone? Oh my gosh, is he stunning?! I bet he’s stunning!”
Aspen and I looked at each other and immediately started laughing. “Let her finish her story, Ivy!” Aspen said.
“Sorry, you’re right. Go on. You joined the awesome sex app and met the love of your life, and now he’s stalking you in order to show his love.” Ivy had a dreamy look in her eyes, and I couldn’t help but laugh again.
“Um maybe?” I said as I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’m not sure. So I did meet a guy, and we’ve been seeing?
I guess that’s the word, each other, for a little over a month.
It was always anonymous,” Ivy perked up, but I continued before she could interrupt again.
“I know! Question Queen! We wore masks, met at night, and one time we even met at the club and used one of their dark rooms. It’s been…
intense to say the least. And before you ask, yes, I think I really like him.
But then I saw him at your party, Aspen, and we talked all night long, and then the gifts started right afterwards.
At first, I didn’t think it was him, but today he told me that I had to accept the next gift, and in walked the gift moments later. ”
“What was it?” Aspen asked. They were both leaning forward as if they were on the edges of their seats, waiting for the next information drop.
“An employee.” Their jaws dropped. “Her name is Jade. She graduated from high school this past spring. Apparently she did a bunch of culinary classes in school and wants to become some kind of chef. She said she’d been eying the bakery as a great learning opportunity, but I’ve never been interested in hiring. ”
“So wait, why did he hire you an employee?” Aspen questioned.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Ivy giggled. “Ember works all the time. She is literally a one-woman operation. Of course if he’s watching you, he sees you need some damn help, so instead of saying that and stating the obvious, he went out and found a qualified woman who would be eager to learn and do a good job for you. Truly, that’s romantic as fuck.”
“Oh,” Aspen replied, her eyes wide as she stared at me, but I just shrugged because I didn’t get that out of it either.
I was more so along the lines of him being a controlling asshole, but at the same time, Ivy’s idea made a great deal of sense, given his comment about having more energy for him now. “Well, I mean, did you like her?”
I sighed. “She’s perfect. Her only downside is she’s never had a real job before, but she’s eager and excited. I told her we’d start her off with three days a week and see how she was doing before I just hand her over the reins to close alone or anything.” I shrugged.
“You don’t seem very excited about this,” Aspen stated.
“She has control issues,” Ivy whispered with a smile.
I couldn’t help the small smile that hit me. Ivy was a breath of fresh air, and her sunshine was contagious.
“Exactly, and I know I need help. I’m exhausted. I just…I’m scared. The bakery is literally my child.”
They both scooted over and wrapped their arms around me. “Don’t worry. We can help if you want. Get her settled in and then stop by when you aren’t there. See how she’s doing. It’ll all be amazing,” Ivy whispered as they both hugged me.
“Thank you guys, I appreciate it.”
We sat like that for a few minutes before Aspen sat up rather quickly and stared at me, wide-eyed.
“Wait. You said you talked to him all night at my Halloween party?” she asked.
“Um, yeah?”
“Was he by chance…um, Batman?”
I felt myself slowly nodding before Ivy’s mouth dropped, and she looked back at me too. “Oh my gosh!! You’re THE Poison Ivy?!” Ivy gasped and screeched. The excitement clear as day in her melodic voice.
“I mean, yeah? You both knew that. Who the fuck is Batman?” I didn’t mean to sound as sharp as I did, but it seemed everyone knew everything now except me.
They both looked at each other before their gazes returned to me. “Batman is Rowan’s twin brother,” Aspen answered.
“No, but that would mean….” I trailed off.
“Wyatt,” Ivy screeched as she squirmed excitedly in her seat.
My heart dropped, along with my mouth.
My Batman was Wyatt Carragan.