Taunting Callum (Big Sky Royal 3)

“Nonsense,” Monica says. “It’s not frizzy at all because your best friend made you start using decent hair products to keep it tamed. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Your makeup has never looked better,” Natasha says, stepping back to take a look at her handiwork. Both of my friends came over to help me get ready for this charity event, where apparently, I’ve been roped into going as Callum’s date.

I’m still not entirely sure how that happened, except that I’m doing Ellie a solid.

That’s right, it’s for Ellie.

“When do I get to see?” I ask.

“Perfection takes a minute,” Monica says as she continues fussing with my hair. Natasha comes at me with yet another brush.

“I don’t need perfection,” I reply. “I just need: I don’t look like Quasimodo.”

“Oh, honey, we can do much better than that,” Natasha says. With a final stroke of the brush, she stands back and grins from ear to ear. “I’m damn good.”

“I mean, was I horrible to begin with?”

I hope not. I don’t usually wear a lot of makeup.

“Of course, not. You’re gorgeous. I just accentuated what was already there,” Natasha says. “This is all you.”

“And your brushes,” I add.

“I’m done, too,” Monica says and reaches for the mirror. “You, my love, are an absolute knockout.”

“Yeah, yeah, let me see.”

She turns the mirror to me, and I just stare at myself for a moment. I didn’t look this good on my wedding day. Sure, I was seventeen, hugely pregnant, and flat broke, but still.

“See? She’s speechless,” Natasha says with satisfaction.

“Wow.”

“No, wow is going to be when you get this dress on,” Monica says and turns toward my closet where the dress in question hangs on the front of the door. “If Callum’s jaw doesn’t hit the floor, he’s not a red-blooded man.”

“That’s what I told her,” Natasha says. “Also, it’s a good thing there will be a lot of doctors at the gala tonight because the back on this dress will give most of the men in attendance heart failure.”

“You two are way too good for my ego,” I laugh as I carefully strip out of my loose tank top and shorts and reach for the dress, not caring in the least that I’m mostly naked in front of these girls.

They’ve seen me at my most naked—when I was broken and crying or scared and unsure. Physically nude is nothing in comparison.

I slip into the amethyst-colored gown and turn in a circle for my friends to see.

“Holy Mary, mother of God,” Monica breathes. “I would give up both ovaries to be able to wear a dress like that. And I’m trying to get pregnant.”

“Same,” Natasha says with a sigh. “Except for the pregnant part. Because, no.”

I turn and look at my back in the mirror. “You guys, it’s literally millimeters away from my ass crack. That can’t be okay. What if I sit down, and it pulls a certain way, and you can see my crack?”

“You’re a grown woman,” Monica says with a scowl. “Sit carefully. If a light breeze hits your crack, readjust.”

I roll my eyes. “Great. Also, I didn’t know you and your husband were trying to get pregnant.”

“It’s a new thing,” Monica says with a shrug. “I was afraid if I talked about it, it might jinx it. But you’re my best friends, and a girl has to talk about this stuff.”

“It’s gonna happen,” Natasha says with a sage nod. “You just have to bone him like…all the time.”

“Well, that’s never been an issue,” Monica says with a laugh. “But enough about me. Aspen, you’re stunning, and I almost hate you for it.”

“Speaking of boning,” Natasha says, “you’re so gonna get some tonight, Aspen. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”

“I’m not sleeping with him,” I insist, shaking my head. “This is a favor for Ellie. I’ll be cordial, I’ll enjoy Ellie and Nina, and then I’ll come home. No sex. No flirting.”

“Well, that’s damn boring,” Monica says. “He’s a prince for fuck’s sake, and he’s clearly into you. At least flirt a little. You owe it to all of the other women in the world to take one for the team here.”

“You’re sick,” I reply with a laugh. These two always make me laugh, calm my nerves, and make me feel like there’s nothing I can’t do.

They’re the reason I got up the nerve to buy Drips & Sips in the first place, rather than being content just working there. Monica and Natasha are the best friends a girl could ask for.

The doorbell rings, and I freeze.

“Awesome, we get to watch him swallow his tongue,” Natasha says with an excited little shimmy as she takes one final look at me and then gestures for me to follow Monica to the door.

Callum has just stepped inside, holding flowers, and is smiling at something Monica said when his eyes shift, and he catches sight of me.