Chapter 3
Pepper
I squinted against the bright glare of the Texas sky the moment I stepped off the plane.
The fourteen-hour flight from Tokyo had been long, but honestly, it was exactly the quiet before the storm that I needed.
While half the plane slept, I had spent hours curled up in my first-class seat with a glass of wine and my digital tablet, sketching out raw, chaotic visual concepts for the Jolt Noir campaign.
I wanted to be fully armed with fresh, boundary-pushing ideas just in case the corporate execs asked for my input during Monday morning's meeting.
By the time I gathered my mountain of luggage at baggage claim and pushed the heavy cart out of the sliding glass doors of the airport terminal, a suffocating wave of Houston humidity hit me square in the face.
But the heat was instantly forgotten when I looked up and spotted my girls.
Standing right outside the pickup lane was a wall of pure energy.
Mars, Nia, and Stormy were literally hopping up and down, waving a massive, glittering neon poster board that read **PEPPER HAS LANDED** in bold letters.
Seeing Stormy right there along with them made my chest tighten with pure joy.
I had tried calling her when I did the three-way FaceTime the other day, but knowing the way that girl fiercely guarded her beauty rest, I knew she’d be dead to the world at that hour.
But she was here now, looking radiant, rounding out our unstoppable quad.
I abandoned my luggage cart and ran straight toward them, screaming as I was instantly gathered into a fierce, suffocating, and absolutely necessary group hug.
"Ladies, oh my god, I missed you all so much!" I gasped, burying my face into their shoulders. "It is officially time to turn the absolute hell up."
"We’ve been waiting for you, superstar!" Stormy squealed, squeezing me tight.
Within minutes, Nia and Stormy were flexing their muscles, helping me toss my ridiculously expensive designer bags into the back of a massive, pristine GMC Denali truck. I slid into the spacious backseat with Stormy while Nia hopped into the front passenger seat and Mars took the wheel.
"How was the journey?" Stormy asked, her eyes glittering with mischief as she reached into her oversized designer tote and pulled out a perfectly chilled bottle of premium champagne.
I laughed softly, shaking my head as the realization washed over me: the festivities had officially begun.
"Long, but highly eventful. I practically redesigned the whole athletic industry over the Pacific Ocean."
I reached for the crystal flutes Stormy was pulling out next. She expertly popped the cork, pouring a crisp, bubbling stream into each glass before passing one up to Nia and handing another to Mars.
"Badasses," Mars said with a grin, checking her mirrors before taking a quick, appreciative sip of Nia’s glass while we were still idling.
"Yeah, no drinking and driving for Mars," Stormy chided playfully, gently tapping Mars on the shoulder from the back. "We cannot have the star quarterback's wife getting us locked up on day one."
Mars laughed, shifting the heavy truck into drive and merging onto the bustling Houston freeway.
Nia reached over and cranked the volume on the sound system all the way up, a heavy, bass-thumping anthem filling the car and matching the rhythmic thud of my own racing heart.
Looking out at the sprawling Texas highways, I just knew deep down that this summer was going to be filled with unforgettable memories.
Twenty minutes later, Mars pulled the Denali down a long, gated driveway, stopping in front of the massive, ultra-modern Airbnb mansion I had booked for the next couple of months. It was a stunning architectural masterpiece of white stone, sharp angles, and towering walls of glass.
"Oh my," Nia breathed, her eyes widening as we walked through the towering front door and into the grand foyer.
"Okay, this is nice," Mars agreed, now comfortably sipping her own flute of champagne as she looked up at the floating staircase.
We kicked off our heels and made our way through the open-concept living space toward the back of the house.
I slid open the massive, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, revealing a breathtaking outdoor oasis.
A huge, sparkling infinity pool stretched across the stone patio, flanked by a steaming, modern jacuzzi and luxury cabanas.
"Oh, we are definitely partying here," Nia declared, leaning against the outdoor bar with a wicked smirk.
It didn't take us long to get completely comfortable.
Within an hour, our bags were tossed into the master suites, our stiff travel clothes were swapped for oversized silk loungers and bikinis, and we were lined up on the plush outdoor lounge chairs by the pool.
The afternoon sun was warm, the champagne was flowing, and the air was thick with the familiar comfort of old-school gossip.
"So," Stormy began, turning her head toward me and lowering her sunglasses. "What ever happened to sexy Tokyo? You know, that gorgeous designer, Kenji, you were dating a couple of months ago?"
I groaned loudly, throwing my head back against the cushion as the girls all locked their eyes on me.
"Oh, he was fun for a minute," I sighed, swirling the remaining champagne in my glass. "But the man could not keep up with my late nights. He was extremely insecure. Every time I was stuck in the studio doing a midnight editorial shoot, he thought I was out cheating."
The girls all scoffed in unison, a chorus of collective eye-rolls echoing around the pool.
"Ew. Yeah, no, we don't need that energy," Nia said, waving a hand dismissively. "He wouldn't have lasted a week here in Houston, for sure."
"Yep, you got rid of that one just in time," Mars added, taking a sip from her glass. "Insecurity is a luxury we don't have time to budget for."
I leaned back, staring up at the clear Texas sky.
I loved romance, and I loved dating, but it seemed like every guy I encountered lately got super attached far too quickly and immediately tried to tie me down.
They wanted to tame the wild card. But I was not a woman to be ruled, that was for damn sure.
I was all for relationships, but the moment a man became insecure about my late-night photoshoots, my chaotic schedule, or the fact that my art took priority over his ego, he had to go.
I needed space to breathe. I needed absolute freedom to create.
I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the sun and the laughter of my best friends wash over me.
I felt authentically free out here. No suffocating Tokyo expectations, no insecure boyfriends clawing at my time.
Just two months of raw sports photography, creative control, and my girls.
I smiled to myself, completely at peace.
I was totally convinced that Monday morning's meeting at Jolt HQ was going to be a breeze, assuming the sports director they hired knew how to stay out of a high-fashion queen's way.
Suddenly, the smooth R&B track blasting through the outdoor speakers was cut short as Nia’s phone vibrated violently against the marble table.
She picked it up, and a massive, radiant smile instantly broke across her face.
I leaned forward, squinting through my sunglasses, and practically choked on my champagne when I saw Cal’s name and picture flashing on the screen.
"Hey, babe," Nia answered immediately, her voice softening into a tone I had never heard her use with anyone else.
My eyes widened to the size of saucers. I gripped my glass and dramatically mouthed the word, "Babe?!" across the pool to Mars.
Mars just grinned, nodding her head and silently mouthing back, "I know!"
It was still so wild and incredibly odd seeing Nia completely captivated in a loving, stable relationship.
Especially with Caleb Sinclair. I mean, yeah, we all knew they were desperately in love with each other when we were growing up, but we didn't actually expect them to emerge as this well-renowned, high-profile powerhouse couple.
"Hey, baby," Cal’s deep, booming voice echoed slightly through her phone. "Listen, we're going out to celebrate tomorrow night for Aaron's new gig. You girls want to come out with us?"
Nia glanced over at me, shifting her phone so we could all hear.
"We actually just picked up Pepper from the airport today, and we had big plans to celebrate her being back in town.
Let me see if they want to just join up with you guys.
Hey, ladies," she called out to the pool, "do you want to go out tomorrow to celebrate Aaron's new gig and just make it one big shindig? "
"Hell yeah!" I yelled instantly, kicking my legs in the water. I was already itching to get out into the Texas streets for a fun, chaotic night out.
"Hey, Pep! Welcome back, sis!" Cal yelled over the speaker, hearing my shout.
"Thanks, bro!" I shouted back, laughing. "It's damn good to be back!"
"Alright, babe, I'll let you know when I'm heading home from the office. I love you," Cal swooned over the line, his tone pure honey.
"I love you too," Nia replied, her cheeks flushing a light pink before she tapped the screen to disconnect.
The second the call ended, I threw my hands up in the air. "I'm telling you, I did not see that coming. Nia, the heartbreaker, completely domesticated."
"Trust me, me neither," Stormy chimed in, edging along the deep end of the pool and getting ready to dive in. "It's a beautiful, terrifying sight."
"Oh, please, guys, don't start," Nia groaned, though she couldn't hide the massive smile plastered on her face as she sat back down.
I swirled my champagne, a sudden thought popping into my head. "Wait... who is Aaron again? I don't think I remember."
Mars chuckled, leaning back on her elbows. "The one who was completely gushing over you at our wedding, Pep. Big guy, incredibly handsome, friends with Jalen and Cal?"
I squinted my eyes, racking my brain through the hazy, alcohol-fueled memories of Mars's massive wedding reception. Then, a vague image of a tall, ridiculously broad-shouldered man with a sharp jawline and intense eyes materialized in my mind.
"Oh, yeah! The one that just stares," I said, bursting into a loud laugh. "He literally looked like he was analyzing my soul from across the room."
"Oh, give him a break," Mars said defensively, though she was laughing right along with me. "He's all work and a bit shy around new people, but he warms up fast. He's actually very funny once he gets comfortable."
"I'm sure he is... when he can actually get a whole sentence out," I teased, taking another sip of my drink.
The girls all cracked up, the sound of our shared laughter echoing across the massive outdoor patio.
We continued to soak in the fading afternoon sun, letting the hours slip away into a warm Houston evening until the purple twilight took over the sky and the ladies finally had to get going to tend to their own weekends.
"I'll see you heffers tomorrow night," I called out, wrapping a plush white towel around my shoulders as I followed them toward the grand foyer. "Where exactly are we meeting?"
"Let’s do my and Cal's house," Nia said, stepping up and planting a warm kiss on my cheek as she headed out the door.
"Sounds like a perfect plan," Stormy added as she wrapped me in a tight hug before effortlessly lifting me off the ground for a quick squeeze that sent us both laughing.
Mars lingered back for a second, pulling me into a tight, meaningful hug that smelled like expensive perfume and home. "Get some more rest tonight, Pepper. You’re definitely going to need it for tomorrow." She pulled back, her eyes shining. "I’m so glad you’re here, Pep."
She smiled, giving me a final wave before stepping out into the humid night. I watched from the massive glass doors as they all piled into the Denali, the headlights cutting through the darkness as they drove off down the gated driveway.
I locked the door, leaning my head against the cool glass. One big shindig tomorrow night. A celebration for my return, and a celebration for this "Aaron" guy's new gig.
I smiled to myself, completely oblivious to the fact that the universe was already twisting our threads together.
Tomorrow night was going to be wild.