with the guys, of course. You get a girls’ evening and I’ll get a guys’ evening”
I looked at Austin. “Really?”
He shrugged. “Works for me.”
“Ditto,” Hurricane and Vortex said at the same time.
They were all up to something, I could sense it.
“Alfred.”
“Yes, Lucky?”
“Did you install that thing I asked about?” I asked him, smiling wide as I looked at Tyson.
“Yes, Lucky.”
“What thing?” Tyson asked.
“All three?” I asked.
“Actually, I installed, ten” he said. “I may have misunderstood your request.”
Ten worked. “That’s even better. And are they functioning properly?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. “Then I will gladly go shopping with my friends tonight.”
Tyson’s eyes narrowed more. “Lucy...”
“Uh oh, he called you by your actual name,” Alura whispered.
“He hates not knowing things,” I whispered. “Unfortunately for him, this is not something that affects my health or safety, so he has no override control on Alfred on it.”
“Like I’d let him anyway,” Alfred said and scoffed. I didn’t know a droid could scoff.
“I think you need repairs,” Tyson muttered.
I shook my head. “You aren’t getting your hands on my droid.”
“Did you find a place to store your cell phone yet?” Crystal asked.
“I have a slot it will fit in, when she gets a new one,” Alfred answered for me.
Tyson laughed. “You fried another phone?”
“Yeah,” I said and let my head drop.
“Go fetch one, Alfred,” Tyson said. “You know where they are.”
Alfred left the room and I tilted my head to the side. “You have spares?”
He nodded. “I bought a dozen to keep on hand in case you destroyed some.”
“A dozen?” Alura, Crystal, and I shouted.
He smirked. “Technically, I just took them from my stock, but I paid my cost for them. You should have seen the cashier. She wasn’t sure what to do with me buying my own phones.”
“You are nothing like I thought you would be,” Tremor said.
Tyson laughed. “I hear that a lot.”
We finished the afternoon with desserts and then we left the guys at the mansion while we went shopping.
The limo dropped us off at Alura’s favorite shopping district.
“Okay, I know we aren’t going to buy it, but you have to show me the dress,” Crystal said.
I sighed and shook my head with a laugh. “Fine.”
Alura looped her arm through mine and Crystal’s and skipped between us all the way down the sidewalk and into the store.
The salesclerk, a gorgeous woman in her early thirties with raven black hair, wearing a dress that fit like a second skin, smiled and waved at Alura. “Hey, girl.”
Alura waved back and headed straight for the dress. “I’m trying to convince her again and this time I brought back up,” she told the salesclerk.
“Violet Strike, that dress was made for you and you know it! What if I offered my ten percent employee discount?” she asked.
My mouth dropped. Why would she offer that to someone she didn’t even know?
“I appreciate that, but it’s just too—”
“Perfect? Gorgeous? You? Dazzling? Jaw dropping?” the salesclerk asked.
“Into the changing room,” Crystal ordered me. “I have to see this thing.”
I let out a sigh, but obeyed, going inside and getting dressed. I stared at my reflection and ran my hands down the sides of the dress. It was perfect. More than perfect. I wouldn’t have many chances to wear it, though, and I didn’t want to spend so much on a dress that would just hang in my closet.
I stepped outside, and Crystal let out a whistle. “Hot damn.”
“I swear it looks even better on you today,” Alura said and exhaled. “I’m so jealous of your figure.”
“Put these on,” the salesclerk said and knelt with a pair of black heels with a wide heel I would at least be able to stand in.
I obeyed, letting her strap them on my feet, and then twirled in front of the three mirrors, watching the skirt flare out and the slit on each side spread open to show off my legs just a bit.
The bodice gave a perfect shape to my cleavage and hugged my waist snugly, but without strangling me.
Crystal picked up the price tag and gnawed on her lower lip. “I get your hesitation, but seriously, that dress was made for you.”
“Don’t pressure her,” Alura said quickly. “She isn’t here to buy it today and that’s fine. I don’t want to spoil the rest of our trip.” She bent over and then before I could object, she took a picture of me in the dress, smiling wickedly.
“Hey!” I snapped. “Don’t you dare send that to them!”
“If you don’t buy the dress in the next month,