Jemmy looked at him belligerently. “I’m okay to drive,” she insisted.
“Keys,” he repeated, giving her a level look.
She groaned sulkily. “Fine.” She dropped her keys in his outstretched hand.
Then she grinned, and as he turned to leave, she jumped on his back. “Giddy-up, horsey! Beat you to the car, Misty!” she yelled over her shoulder.
Remy barely stumbled as he hoisted her completely up and wrapped his arms around her legs so she wouldn’t fall off.
“Come on,” Troy said with a glint in his eyes, stooping down in front of me.
I giggled and hopped on. “To the car, kind sir.” I cried in excitement.
He chuckled and took off after Remy’s and Jemmy’s retreating backs. We were almost upon them since Remy wasn’t running, but Troy was.
“Hot messes,” I heard Stacey mutter to Noah as we passed them.
I giggled. I didn’t care. I couldn’t remember the last time I had this much fun. I was acting like a typical teenager and embracing it.
“Misty?” Troy asked as we passed Remy and Jemmy. I noticed he was carrying me effortlessly and he wasn’t even out of breath.
“Oh, didn’t you know,” I grinned impishly leaning around so I could try to make eye contact. “I’m Silvermist, A.K.A. Misty, Tinkerbell’s friend. You guys are my Lost Boys.”
He chuckled. “Sounds about right. I don’t think we ever wanted to grow up. Staying in Neverland was all we hoped for.”
When we got to the house, I helped Drake, Jemmy, Noah, Remy, and Troy set up for Jax’s guests. It was obvious that they had done this before. Drake went straight to the kitchen area and started pulling out paper plates, drinks, and cups. Remy went into the detached garage and pulled out some folding tables to strategically place on the patio. I followed Jemmy around as she turned on the lights for the pool and patio. She plugged in the lights that were strung under the pergola, and then she turned on the outdoor gas heaters. Noah and Troy went to get the firewood from the gardener’s shed to get the fire going in the pit.
We were done first and Jemmy dragged me to the kitchen to grab two Monsters. She poured some out of each and then handed me one.
“Drink,” she said.
I shrugged and started sipping on it. I was surprised she wasn’t trying to slip me more alcohol. I thought too soon as she dragged me into Will’s den and opened his liquor cabinet. She poured some flavored vodka in both of our cans and giggled conspiratorially at me.
She put a finger to her lips and said, “Shh, don’t tell Pops.”
My inhibitions were down. I didn’t care. We weren’t hurting anyone, I reasoned to myself.
I smiled and tapped her can with mine, winking. “Tell him what,” I gave her a guileless smile.
She giggled wickedly. “I knew we were soul mates, best friends forever, sisters from another mister. We should get matching tattoos. Yes, matching tattoos! I should text Rick and tell him to bring his kit. He’s a phenomenal artist!”
I smiled and shrugged. “I will think about it.”
She looked at me with narrowed eyes for a second and then shrugged. “Let’s go, girl,” she began dragging me one more. “Time to get into our swimsuits.”
This
penetrated through my happy haze. I was still cognizant of the fact that Jemmy’s itty bitty triangular bikinis would not keep my girls and my ass cheeks covered. “I don’t have a swimsuit and yours won’t fit me.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Pops buys extras! They’re in the pool house. I’m sure we can find something.”
In the end, I settled on a bright red and white striped bikini with halter neck straps and a pair of matching red boy shorts. I turned in front of the mirror, ensuring most of the scar on my rear was covered. My hair covered the cigarette burns above my bra line, but there wasn’t much I could do about the scar below my left breast. It was five inches long and raised.
After Heidi’s boyfriend had inflicted the wound, he had fondled and touched me until he realized I was getting blood all over him and I was close to passing out. I couldn’t tell him because of the gag in my mouth.
He had freaked out and called one of his friends. His friend had come, walked passed a passed-out Heidi, and stitched me up. Poorly. My skin never healed properly, so I was left with a pretty nasty scar.
I shrugged. This was the best I was going to get. This bathing suit covered most of what I wanted to be covered.