She's the One (Boggy Creek Valley Book 3)

by Kelly Elliott

  Willa smiled brilliantly when she saw me. “Oh my gosh, Abby! You’re home!”

  I opened my arms and hugged her—well, hugged her the best I could with her baby belly in the way. Taking a step back, I glanced at her stomach. “May I?”

  She held her arms open. “Have at it. She loves the attention.”

  “It’s a girl?” I asked as I placed my hands on Willa’s hard stomach.

  She shrugged. “Don’t know. Aiden and I want it to be a surprise, so we haven’t found out. I think it’s a girl though.”

  Suddenly, my hand jumped, and I let out a little yelp. “She kicked!”

  Laughing, Willa said, “I told you! Only a woman would love that much attention. Plus, I had terrible morning sickness the first four months. I didn’t have that with Ben.”

  I placed my hand on her stomach again, only to be rewarded with another swift kick.

  Willa’s hand went over mine, and I met her gaze. “I’m sorry, Abby. I never knew until Greer told me.”

  I placed my other hand on top of Willa’s. “Thank you. And I know you didn’t know.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked with a slight tilt of her head.

  “Yes. I do have some lingering issues I need to work through, but I’m fine. When are you due?”

  She rolled her eyes. “January twenty-sixth.”

  “Wow, another two months!”

  “Don’t remind me,” she sighed, but then she winked. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to pee.”

  Brighton came barreling in with Greer right behind her. “And that, ladies, will be the number-one phrase Willa says all night: ‘I need to pee.’ She pees more than any person I’ve ever met.”

  “Someday, Bree. Someday you’re going to get payback for all the hell you give me,” Willa called over her shoulder as she made her way to the closest bathroom.

  Bree huffed. “I don’t believe I ever signed up for the I Want Kids Club, but thanks.”

  “Okay, Bree, I need to know why you felt the need to bring the largest speaker ever,” Greer said.

  A wide smile erupted over her face. “It’s wireless, and we’re going to get our dance on.”

  “Our dance on?” Greer and I said in unison.

  With a wink, Bree added, “And I brought dress-up clothes.”

  “Dress-up clothes?” Candace asked as she walked into the house. “I’m all about dress-up clothes. What kind of dress-up are we talking about?”

  Bree clapped her hands and did a little jump. “The kind that says I’m a badass woman, and I don’t need a man—that’s for us single women—and we are sexy AF.”

  “What does sexy AF mean?”

  We all swung around to see Arabella standing there. Her eyes darted between each of us.

  Bree walked up to Arabella and smiled. “Sexy as fuck.” She wrapped Arabella in her arms and whispered something to her. Arabella drew back and gifted Bree with the sweetest grin.

  I looked at Candace and Greer, and we all exchanged tentative smiles.

  It was Candace who lightened the mood. “I call any outfits with whips.”

  “Damn,” Brighton whispered as a horrified look moved over Arabella’s face.

  She and I exchanged surprised looks, but Greer just ignored them. “If you brought wine, put it in the kitchen,” Greer told Candace.

  “Wine? Please,” Bree answered. “I brought vodka and whiskey.”

  Candace groaned. “Why do you not live here full time, Bree? Why?”

  They both chuckled, picked up some of the bags—which, from all the clanking, I was positive were filled with liquor—and followed Greer into the kitchen.

  “I’ll take Arabella upstairs to pick out her room,” I called out.

  Willa joined us and said, “I think I’ll head up as well. I need to make sure I’m close to the bathroom.”

  “There are two with bathrooms attached. Greer insisted I stay in the one with the full bath, but if you want to trade—”

  Willa waved me off as she took her bag and started for the staircase. She moved up the steps better than I did, and I wasn’t seven months pregnant. “Nope, all I need is a toilet close by.”

  As Willa made her way into the room with the half bath, Arabella took the one that was next to my bedroom. It had a large bay window with a huge built-in sitting area.

  Arabella set her bag on the bed and went over to the window. “This is stunning. I could get lost in this little nook for hours.”

  “You’ve seen the library, I take it,” I asked, sitting down on the bed.

  “I have. Isn’t it amazing?”

  “It really is.” I watched Arabella make her way slowly around the room, taking it all in. “Are you okay with Bree being here?”

  She stopped and looked at me. “Of course I am.”

  I lifted one brow.

  “Fine. I will admit that I’ve been a bit jealous, knowing she was with Hunter a couple of times, but I think we’ll be okay. Bree called me earlier. She was really sweet, Abby. She explained that she remembered we’d dated in high school, but didn’t know how we’d broken up. She said had she known I still had feelings for him, she never would have slept with him. And I explained that Hunter was a free man who could see whomever he wanted.”

  “And did she call you a liar?”

  Arabella shot me a dirty look. “Hunter doesn’t belong to me, Abby.”

  I bit my tongue. I wasn’t exactly one to sit here and preach. I had already heard all the rumors and whispers about how many women Bishop had slept with—or was rumored to have slept with.

  Willa knocked on the door and walked in, then softly shut it behind her. She spun around and looked at us with desperate eyes. “Brighton brought outfits!”

  Laughing, I replied, “I heard.”

  “No, you guys don’t understand. She brought outfits that like…strippers would wear. No offense to strippers.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  Willa glanced at the door and then back at us. “I peeked in her bag. I saw a French maid outfit and a cheerleading uniform. And the only other things I could make out were a tiny plaid skirt and lace stockings, and a football jersey that didn’t look like it would fit a two-year-old girl!”

  The door to the bedroom opened and Bree waltzed in, with Candace and Greer bringing up the rear. She dropped a bag onto Arabella’s bed, then clapped her hands and rubbed them together. A look of pure sinister glee came over her face.

  Clearing her throat, Bree said, “Okay, ladies, Candace has claimed one of the outfits.” She dug into her bag and came out with a black and white getup. “She’s our French maid.”

  Candace grabbed at the dress. “Oh, this is perfect!”

  “Don’t forget your duster,” Bree said with a laugh as she handed her a stick that looked nothing like a duster.

  “Wait, how did you know what sizes to get?” Arabella asked.

  Brighton looked at her with a stunned expression.

  Willa let out a bark of laughter. “Bree is the queen of fashion. She can look at you and immediately know your bust, hips, and shoe size, as well as what brand of highlighter you’re wearing.”

  Bree rolled her eyes. “Please, Willa. I’m not good with shoe sizes. That’s my only downfall.” She pulled out another outfit and met Arabella’s gaze. “Okay, I have you down for the innocent school girl.”

  Holding up a small white shirt and a very short pink-and-white plaid skirt, she handed them to Arabella, who studied the shirt, her eyes widening as she took in how small it was.

  “Oh wait! These white thigh-highs go with that one.”

  Bree handed the white stockings to Arabella. She held them up and then looked at me, incredulous. But there was a sparkle in her eyes I hadn’t seen in a very long time. I couldn’t help but giggle.

  “Willa, this outfit is for you!”

  We all leaned in to see what Bree had cooked up for the one person in the group with a bun in the oven.

  When she handed it over, Will
a’s eyes jerked up and she shot Bree a death stare. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  I had to put my hand over my mouth when Willa held up a jersey that had the number 69 on it. Then she held up the tiniest pair of white shorts I’d ever seen. “What am I supposed to be? A pregnant football player?”

  That had everyone busting out in laughter. Everyone except Bree.

  “That’s exactly what you are. Besides, it looked like it would be the most comfortable outfit for you.”

  “Girl, where did you order this stuff? I need the website,” Candace said as she kicked off her shoes. “I’m using your bathroom, Abby!”

  I blinked at her a few times. “Um, okay. Are we changing into them now?”

  Bree went back to looking in her bag. “Here’s my outfit! The naughty schoolgirl. It’s a white shirt that ties at the bottom of my boobs, kind of like yours, Arabella. Then I have a red-and-black plaid skirt with garter straps. Now, if I was wearing this for a man, I’d go sans panties—but I suggest we all wear panties tonight.”

  “I want a garter belt.”

  All eyes swung to Arabella.

  Before anyone could say anything, Bree answered, “I’ve got you covered. I brought extra garter belts!”

  “Of course she did,” Willa muttered. Bree shot her a dirty look over her shoulder.

  “Where’s my outfit?” Greer asked.

  Bree grinned wickedly. “You’re the naughty librarian!”

  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Greer grab the outfit and jump up in excitement. “Oh my God, it even comes with fake glasses!” The outfit was also red-and-black plaid and just as sexy as all the others.

  Bree handed her black stockings and garters. “The garters attach to your skirt.”

  “I love it!” Greer exclaimed.

  “Now for the guest of honor’s outfit!” Bree clapped her hands in excitement.

  “Oh God,” I whispered, as Bree pulled out a gold bra that barely looked like it would cover my nipples. Then she grabbed a mesh skirt and a bunch of gold jewelry-looking things.

  “Your outfit has all kinds of fun accessories. Like this gold band that goes around your forehead. It came with wrist restraints, but you won’t be needing those tonight.”

  She handed me the outfit, and I held up the bra. “Bree, is this even going to cover anything?”

  With a laugh, she replied, “Yes, trust me, and it’s going to make your boobs look amazing. We may even have to take a picture and send it to Bishop, so he sees what he’s missing.”

  Greer giggled while Candace walked back into Arabella’s room dressed in her one-piece French maid outfit. She even had on black high heels.

  “Where did you get the heels?” Bree asked.

  Candace rolled her eyes. “Please, like I would go anywhere without a pair of black pumps. A girl never knows when she’s going to need a sexy pair of heels.”

  “Touché,” Bree said with a bow in Candace’s direction.

  “I’m going to go change!” Greer called out, rushing from the room.

  “Wait, we’re really changing now?” Arabella asked, since my question had been ignored.

  Willa let out a sigh. “Apparently.”

  I stared down at my outfit, then looked up at Arabella. When she smiled, I couldn’t help but return it. “I’m going to go change too,” I said, gathering up all of my things and heading out of Arabella’s room.

  “The pizza will be here any minute. Should one of us stay dressed?” Greer asked.

  “Hell no,” Bree and Candace said at the same time.

  “We need to be best friends,” Candace said to Bree.

  Bree nodded. “Agreed.”

  As I made my way into my bedroom to change into my outfit, I looked at the tag on the bra. It read Gold Goddess Lingerie. I couldn’t help but wonder where this night was going to lead. If Candace and Bree had any say, we’d probably be heading out to a club dressed in naughty clothes, drunk out of our minds. Well, everyone but Willa would be drunk at least.

  “Well,” I said as I got undressed and tied on the gold bra. “I, for one, am not going to lose my mind tonight.”

  I stared at myself in the mirror, turning from side to side to take it all in. “Wow, this thing does make my boobs look good.” I searched through my bag and found a black thong, then removed my soft white cotton panties. Once the thong was on, I slipped into the mesh skirt.

  Laughing, I looked at myself. The “skirt” was nothing more than two pieces of mesh that hung in the front and back. My legs were totally exposed. I had to admit, I felt sexy.

  There was a light knock on my door. “Come in,” I said.

  Arabella walked in, and our eyes met in the mirror. I spun around and took in her outfit. The white shirt was tied right between her breasts. The pink-and-white plaid skirt barely covered anything. Her white thigh-high stockings had black bows at the top, and she’d clipped on the garters that Bree had given her.

  When my eyes met hers again, we both laughed.

  “Holy shit, Arabella. Where in the hell have you been hiding that smoking-hot body?”

  Her cheeks blushed as she looked down at herself, then walked over to the mirror and stood next to me. “I hate to admit this, but I feel so sexy. I haven’t felt this comfortable in my body since before…” Her voice trailed off, and for a moment I felt her slipping away.

  I grabbed her hand and made her do a spin. “Hunter would shit his pants if he saw you right now.”

  She waved me off. “I doubt it. Do you feel sexy? You look hot.”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  We both grinned at each other, and then fell into another fit of giggles.

  “I have no idea what’s in store for tonight, but I would die if anyone saw me in this,” Arabella finally said.

  I lifted a brow and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to send a little peek to Hunter?”

  She bit down on her lip. “It’s tempting, but no. I think tonight is one of those nights that stays with the girls.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more!”

  Bishop

  Hunter laid down his cards, which caused half the table to curse.

  “Motherfucker, are you cheating?” Aiden asked, tossing his losing hand down.

  Hunter grinned and pulled his winnings toward him.

  “I think you’re cheating. You’ve never been this good at poker,” Kyle said.

  Leaning back in my chair, I laughed. “After all these years of playing with the guy, how are any of you not able to read him yet?”

  “What do you mean, read me?” Hunter asked.

  “I learned his cues after we played three hands,” Hudson said, before finishing off his bottle of beer.

  Lifting my beer to Hudson, I said, “My man!”

  “Who wants another?” Hunter asked as he got up and headed into the kitchen. “Aiden, you’re almost out of beer!”

  Aiden huffed. “That’s because you and Kyle didn’t bring any with you.”

  Kyle and Hunter’s pagers suddenly went off at the same exact time.

  Hudson looked around the room. “Are those pagers? Who uses pagers anymore?”

  Aiden and I laughed.

  “The Boggy Creek Police Department,” Kyle said. “My father insists Hunter and I carry them in case they need us for a search and rescue, or they need to use Jack.” Kyle looked over at Hunter, who walked out of the kitchen holding a few beers and talking on his cell phone.

  He frowned and set the beers down with a thunk, then hung up.

  “Um, Hudson…how close is your nearest neighbor?” Hunter asked.

  Hudson shrugged. “I don’t know. We’re on fifteen acres. Mrs. Lewis is probably the closest. Why?”

  Hunter grabbed his coat. “We need to get to your house.”

  Hudson jumped up. “What’s wrong?”

  Hunter looked at Kyle. “A noise complaint. The responding officer said we might want to go and handle it”

  Kyle stood. “Shit.”
<
br />   “A noise complaint?” Bishop asked. “What in the hell are those girls doing?”

  Kyle and Hunter exchanged a strange look and then glanced at me. “Apparently, they’re having a dance party,” Hunter answered.

  “That sounds harmless,” Aiden said, standing as well.

  “Dance party?” Hudson repeated.

  Kyle groaned. “Come on, boys, let’s go see what the women are up to.”

  We all piled into two vehicles: me, Hunter, and Aiden in one, and Hudson and Kyle in another. Hudson and Greer lived on the outskirts of town, but not far from Aiden’s place, so it didn’t take us long to get there.

  As we drove down the driveway, Hunter unrolled the window. “Is that their music?”

  Aiden lost it laughing. “They’re jamming!”

  Kyle pulled up and parked next to Hunter. The five of us stood there and stared up at the house as Roger, the responding officer, walked up to us. He clearly couldn’t hide the fact that he was trying not to laugh.

  “You guys might want to prepare yourselves for what you’re about to see.”

  We all looked at him as Hudson asked, “What do you mean?”

  “Let’s just say I walked in, then turned around and walked right back out to page Kyle and Hunter. Since it’s your sisters in there, I thought it’d be best to let you intervene.”

  “Oh God,” Kyle and Hunter both said in unison as they started up the steps.

  Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” started just when we walked in and saw all the girls in the formal dining room…dancing.

  “Oh, mother of God,” Aiden muttered. “Willa! What in the hell are you doing on the table?”

  Of course, Willa couldn’t hear Aiden because the music was so damn loud.

  “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Hunter yelled into my ear.

  All I could do was nod. My eyes had immediately landed on Abby. She was in the middle of the table dressed like a fucking goddess in a gold bra and a skirt that left nothing to the imagination.

  “Is Arabella really dancing like that with Brighton?” Hunter asked.

  “I don’t know. I can’t stop looking at Abby!” I shouted.