Party Crashers by Bond Stephanie

Author:Bond, Stephanie [Bond, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

"THIS IS COZY," Carlotta said as she and Hannah walked into Jolie's apartment. The women's hands were full of shopping bags. "How long have you lived here?"

Jolie smiled. "Too long."

Hannah studied her shabby collection of furnishings as if Jolie were an oddity to the stripe-haired woman. She picked up a coaster that Jolie's mother had crocheted from orange yarn and scrutinized it. As a distraction, Jolie offered them something to drink, and Hannah helped herself in the refrigerator, emerging with a bottle of water each for Carlotta and Jolie, and a bottle of beer for herself.

With a start, Jolie stared at the bottle that Hannah lifted to her mouth. It was the premium label that Gary preferred. Hannah stopped. "Is it all right if I drink this?'

"Of course," Jolie said, recovering. She had bought a few to keep on hand and he hadn't had the chance to drink one before he...disappeared. She remembered thinking later that she had cursed the blossoming relationship with that casual act of intimacy—stocking his favorite beer.

"Wait until you see what I brought," Carlotta said with a grin, lifting a shopping bag. "We're going to knock 'em dead." From a bag she withdrew a burgundy-colored velvet robe with bishop sleeves. "I thought this would be perfect for you, Jolie."

Jolie petted the thick pile and began to salivate. "I hope you shopped the clearance rack."

Carlotta looked perplexed. "Why would I shop the clearance rack if we're going to be returning everything?"

"Will they let you return nightclothes?" Hannah asked, peeking into the bags.

"Robes they'll take back," Carlotta said. "And pajamas if they haven't been worn." She made a face. "Doris in Intimates actually sniffs things. It's disgusting."

"Uh, actually, I think it's a health code," Hannah said, pulling out a black high-necked satiny robe. "This is wicked."

"That one's yours," Carlotta said, then pulled out a teal-colored raw silk robe with a ruffled shawl collar. "This one's mine." She dug in a different bag and removed handfuls of colorful silk. "Pajamas for all of us: a cream chemise for Jolie, pink tap pants for me, a red gown for Hannah."

Jolie balked at the sight of the knee-length chemise. "Er, I was thinking more along the lines of cotton pajamas."

Carlotta looked horrified. "What? No!" She handed Jolie the chemise as if she were dressing a child who didn't know better.

Jolie rubbed the pale, thin fabric between her fingers with awe. "What if I ruin it?"

"You're not going to ruin it." Carlotta whipped out packages of what looked like shoulder pads. "Dress shields, so we don't sweat on the silk. And be careful what you eat and drink."

Jolie turned over the dangling price tag on the chemise and gasped. "Eight hundred dollars? You can't be serious."

"Your robe costs twelve hundred."

Jolie looked at that tag, then dropped it as if it were dangerous. "You don't expect me to wear two thousand dollars' worth of pajamas to this party?"

"Of course not," Carlotta said, then reached into another bag, withdrew a shoebox, and flung off the lid.

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