ran to meet her at the door, tears almost immediately filling my eyes. I didn’t even realize how badly I’d wanted company until she’d arrived. I squeezed her so hard she wheezed.
“Okay, okay. Girl, I need to breathe.”
I loosened my grip but I didn’t let go. “What are you doing here?” I looked up to her face, situated above her ample cleavage. My chin quivered, giving me away. Her cat-eye black liner was perfect, and her flaming red hair was styled in its typical boho-retro chic. Whereas I looked I’d jumped out of bed to wrangle a rooster—and lost.
“We heard there was a last-minute move of the SWS meeting.” Her smile melted as her gaze moved over my face. “Are you crying?”
I shook my head. “We?” Hope filled my chest and I let her go.
On cue, Suzie Samuels, Blithe Tanner, and Roxy Kincaid filed into the room wearing bewildered looks.
I ran to each of them and squeezed them until their backs popped. Even Suzie, who was the newest member of the SWS and who I had only met one other time. I didn’t care. I needed all the hugs today. Each hug was welcomed warmly. When I was finally done, I wiped my eyes with a sniffle. I was a sap; I owned it.
“Here.” Gretchen pushed a duffle bag into my arms.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Provisions,” she explained. “We thought maybe you were in danger, but I see we were way off base.”
Suzie’s dark hair was styled in a sleek bob with the left side shaved close to her head. Her eyes were wide as she took in the massive living room with floor-to-ceiling windows. “This place …”
Suzie’s mouth hung open, her head swiveling to take in the room. With the massive windows and trendy—and no doubt expensive—interior design, this was no average home, to be sure.
“When you hear ‘cabin in the woods’ you think chainsaw-wielding serial killers and half-naked teenagers. This is …” Suzie trailed off.
“Unreal,” Blithe finished for her. Her long, pale, blonde hair fell straight down her back. She stared at the ceiling before shaking her head and turning to the buffet. She squeaked in excitement when she found the rosé and began opening it.
“This place is insane. I equally want to rescue you and knock you out to take your place.” Gretchen moved toward the table of food and we all followed. “I could totally learn the violin.”
“Cello,” I corrected.
“Listen, I’d learn the fracking harp to stay here.”
I set the bag on the floor and knelt to rummage through it. As hungry as I was, I was desperate for comfortable clothes. Starched pants were fine for a performance but there was no give to the waistline, and I was about to eat my weight in cheese and crackers.
I almost cried again, tears of relief this time, when I spotted my favorite pair of yoga pants (which were, incidentally, never worn for yoga).
“Thank you so much guys. Oh yes, you got my favorite moisturizer too! You’re everything a girl could ask for.” I held up a cotton T-shirt that said, “Baby got Bach” and rubbed my face into it like the Snuggle bear. “Mmm.” It smelled like home and comfort and lazy days. Another outfit, a better bra, thank God, and—
“What’s with the baseball bat?” I lifted out a heavy Louisville Slugger.
Gretchen winked with a knowing nod. “I gotchu, boo.”
“We’ve been concerned,” Roxy added. As always, she was dressed in all black, including heavy black eye liner and a leather coat covering her tattoos. She had been the last to leave the Wraiths and the life that came with Jethro Winston. She was the sharpest-edged but easily the most fragile of all of us. “We heard there was weirdness last night after your concert and suddenly you’re off the map and this random number is texting us. I don’t like this shit.”
“Someone texted you?” I asked, placing the bat back into the bag and taking out a fresh outfit.
“The number was unknown but mentioned the meeting with a time and address. We figured we’d check it out,” Suzie said.
Blithe grinned as she grabbed a batch of grapes. Her almost-see-through eyelashes fluttered with excitement. “We were stoked that you were being assertive and taking the lead for the next meeting.”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t me.”
“That’s what I said.” Roxy made a told-you-so face at Gretchen, her dark rimmed eyes squinting at her. “Didn’t sound like you. You’re never that decisive.”
“That feels sort of judgey,” I said.
“I didn’t mean