really sorry if my worries don’t conform to your timeline, Colonel. Feel free to give me a detailed schedule, and I’ll get back to you.”
Snatching up her purse and sandals at the kitchen door, she walked out.
Not slamming the door, no, not his professor. But it closed with a very decided sound.
It was good to know she could stand up to him—and it was also as annoying as hell. Because she’d walked out in the middle of their discussion…argument.
Fight.
Yeah, he’d fucked up quite nicely.
Early in the evening, Valerie ran a finger around the rim of her glass of sangria, half-heartedly listening to the other women around the round table. The upscale bar was crowded with tourists, probably there for the “happy hour” drink special.
She wasn’t much in a happy hour mood, but Linda had called and talked her into joining some of the Shadowlands submissives.
What a messed-up day.
Earlier in her apartment, she’d started a list of the pros and cons of giving up her place. Then, annoyed, she’d abandoned it and instead scrawled Finn’s name at the bottom of her F list. Because he was an item that definitely needed work.
Effing man.
After enjoying the momentary satisfaction, she’d done her grading and finished preparing the tests for the remainder of the year. Cleaned her apartment. Did the laundry.
Being angry with someone was more energizing than a potful of coffee.
So was being angry with herself.
She certainly could have handled the discussion about her apartment in a more reasonable fashion. Instead, she’d stomped away—no, fled—like a child.
Even worse, she wasn’t sure what to do at this point. Should she stay away? Or show up as usual with her suitcase. Could she even assume he still wanted her there?
Or at all?
A burst of laughter brought her attention back to her friends.
Really, Valerie, this wasn’t the time to be stewing.
And who could stay in a grumpy mood when Zuri had brought fuzzy kitten-ear headbands for everyone to wear?
Caving into peer pressure, and honestly, unable to resist, Valerie had donned a band, fluffing her hair enough her ears pricked up just enough to be seen.
She checked her image in the tiny mirror from her purse and laughed. “I’m too old for this and not a cute person.”
“Yet you look adorable,” Linda confirmed and took the mirror to check her own ears…and grinned. “We’re both cute.”
“However, this costume party stops with ears,” Valerie said firmly. “No whiskers.”
Andrea snickered. “Be grateful it isn’t a Master dressing you up. Cullen likes seeing me as a cat, and he always adds a tail.”
Valerie frowned. “A tail. Like with a belt or—”
Across the table, Gabi broke out laughing. “Or, Valerie, very or. The tail is attached to a plug that goes into a very uncomfortable place.”
“Good grief.” Valerie’s buttocks tightened in protest.
Gabi waved her hand. “Right after I’d joined, Marcus dressed me as a cocker spaniel— floppy ears, fuzzy mittens, and a tail, and made me crawl on top of the bar. The Doms lined up to give me orders. Sit. Bark. Down.”
A nearby tableful of tourists went silent in shock.
Valerie started to snicker. “Too loud, Gabi.”
Following her gaze, Linda sputtered with laughter, setting Gabi off.
Shaking her head, Jessica pointed her finger at Gabi. “Woman, you are cut off.”
“Of course, you’d say that, oh Miss Preggie, who isn’t allowed anything alcoholic,” Gabi sniffed.
Jessica frowned. “Why do you say Miss Preggie, and I hear Miss Piggy?”
“Don’t let Master Z hear you calling yourself fat, or you’ll be a very pink-assed preggie,” Sally pointed out.
Valerie stared. “Z would…um… swat you for putting yourself down?”
“Oh, girl, you have no idea,” Jessica said ruefully. “A good Dom won’t try to change who you are, but all bets are off if what you’re doing or thinking makes you unhappy.”
“Yeah, they’re all over that shit.” Sally scowled.
“But you’re both beautiful,” Valerie protested.
“Jessica’s lessons were about how she feels about her size. Me?” Sally wrinkled her nose in annoyance. “My Demon Doms wanted me to talk about my feelings.”
Andrea held up her hand in a show of unity. “For me, I wouldn’t ask for help. Mi señor got so frustrated he had me sold to a sadist during a club auction. It forced me to learn that lesson.”
Cullen auctioned his submissive? “Well, gods.”
Without exception, they all had half-rueful, half-pleased expressions.
Even Linda.
Valerie raised her eyebrows at her friend but didn’t speak. Sometimes people didn’t want to talk about their personal life.
“It’s all right to ask,” Linda said with a smile. “Sam helped me overcome the belief that being a