She tried on a form-fitting dress with a swirling skirt in a soft cranberry color.

“Yes.” Lily smiled at her response.

She tried on a pair of jeans and a blue iris sweater that showed a hint of flesh at the top.

“Yes.”

Lily tried on a jade-green sweater dress, which was too tight. She didn’t want to open the door.

“No, it doesn’t suit you at all.” Thankfully, Sex Piston agreed with her own opinion.

Lily tried on several more outfits, letting Sex Piston pick and choose. Thankfully, she agreed with most of her choices since she was going to be the one wearing them. She picked up the ones she would be purchasing, setting them aside, and then straightened the rest back onto the hangers.

Going outside the dressing room, she carried the clothes she was going to buy on her arm.

“Can you grab the others to put on the rack so they can restock them?” Lily asked.

Sex Piston took the ones that were going back in stock, hanging them on the rack. All except for the green dress. Lily raised an eyebrow at her.

“What? I said it didn’t suit you, but it will look hot on me,” Sex Piston said unashamedly.

They checked out.

“Thanks for going with us,” Lily said as they shoved all the bags into Beth’s SUV.

“Hell, we aren’t done. You need shoes.” Sex Piston pushed her toward the local shoe store.

The store had a lone salesclerk and he was male. The women had him making trip after trip to the back.

Lily liked this much better. All she had to do was sit and try on pair after pair of shoes.

“No way,” Lily refused, seeing the price on the side of the box the clerk was showing her.

“Hell, yeah. Your sister can pay for them. She’s married to Mr. Moneybags,” Killyama said, taking the box away from the clerk while giving him one of her flirtatious smiles.

Lily stifled her laughter. The man looked scared enough to wet himself.

Reaching forward, she took the shoes from Killyama, trying on the high heels that she was sure would break her ankle if she ever dared to wear them.

“She’ll take them,” Beth spoke up with a mischievous look in her eyes.

Lily shook her head, not wanting to spend her sister’s money.

“Don’t worry about it. They’ll be worth every dime when I see Shade’s face.”

Beth took the six pairs of shoes to the register before Lily could change her mind. Lily walked out of the store overwhelmed by the amount of money Beth had spent carelessly that day. Guilt kicked in, making her decide to take some of the things back next week and return the money to her sister.

“Let’s get some dinner,” Sex Piston said.

“I’m paying,” Beth offered. Since when did Beth become so free with her cash? Her sister, while not broke, had always been frugal with her money.

Razer, who was leaning against the SUV after having helped the women load the car, gave a twisted grin.

“Where at?” Fat Louise asked, excited.

“Let’s do it up right. The Pink Slipper sound good to everyone?” Beth mentioned the most expensive restaurant and bar in Treepoint.

“They won’t let us in the door.” Fat Louise reminded Beth they hadn’t been allowed in the restaurant since the fight they had started when Razer and Beth had temporarily broken up.

“I happen to know it’s under new management,” Beth happily said, spreading the good news.

The whoops and hollers drew the attention of customers leaving the stores that were closing. No one other than Lily seemed to notice, though, and so they each got in their separate vehicles, driving the short distance to the restaurant.

Inside, Razer went to sit at the bar, leaving the women at a table on their own.

Sex Piston and her crew ordered the most expensive items on the menu. Lily was sure it was because they knew Beth was paying with Razer’s money. They still held a grudge against him for breaking their friend’s heart. The women were loyal to Beth and even treated her like a sister because of their affection for her.

They all ordered tea and water to drink, except for Crazy Bitch and Killyama who drank beer, telling Sex Piston she was driving.

“Wait until you’re knocked up. I’ll drink a fucking six-pack in front of you,” she said vengefully. Lily thought that by the time Sex Piston’s baby arrived, it would be born with an extensive vocabulary.

The diners at the other tables kept giving them censuring looks which they ignored.

T.A. leaned forward. “So, has the hunk of burning love made his move yet?”

“Who?” Lily asked, dumbfounded.

T.A. rolled her eyes. “You know who I’m talking about. Shade.”

“Kind of.” ‘Hunk of burning love’ was not how she would describe Shade’s stern demeanor.

“What the fuck does that mean? Yes or no?” Crazy Bitch snapped.

“Well, we kissed last night,” Lily confided, embarrassed she was talking about something so intimate in front of her sister.

“You kissed?” Crazy Bitch asked, looking at her like she had lost her mind.

“Was it too soon?” Lily asked. The women at the table just stared at her then burst into hysterical laughter. Even Beth almost fell out of her chair when Killyama whacked her accidently with her elbow.

“What’s so funny?” Lily asked sharply.

“N…N…Nothing,” Sex Piston said, wiping the tears off her cheeks. “Beth, if I have a daughter, I’m sending her to live with you when she reaches puberty.”

“Hell, she damn sure doesn’t take after her sister. Beth gave up the whole shebang quicker than that.” Crazy Bitch slammed her beer down on the table.

“Shut up,” Beth hissed.

“You go, sister,” Sex Piston said, raising her hand for Lily to high-five. “Make the motherfucker work for it.” Lily lamely hit her palm against Sex Piston’s.

“Are you crazy? Why make him work for it? I’d have given it up before he asked for it. By the way, when you find out how far down those tats go, will you let us know? We’ve got a bet going,” T.A. confided, leaning sideways in her chair to whisper in Lily’s ear.

The food arrived, and Lily was glad when they settled down to eat. When the check arrived, Lily tried to take it to pay Beth back for some of the clothes, but Beth wouldn’t let her.

“I’ve got it.” She laid the card down on the ticket.

Lily glanced down, expecting to see either Beth or Razer’s name on the card; instead, it bore another name she recognized.

“He said to make sure you had a good time. Have you had fun?” Beth teased.

“Yes… but—”

“Don’t worry; he can afford a small dinner.” Beth patted her hand.

“But—”

“A few pairs of shoes, too,” Beth continued, her smile widening.

Lily hid her face in her hand.

“And a whole new wardrobe,” Beth finished, then teased, “I’m thinking he might deserve more than a kiss.”

Chapter 25

When Beth pulled her SUV into the parking lot of The Last Riders, cutting the engine, Lily sat relaxed in the seat next to her as Razer opened Beth’s door, helping her out. Her sister looked exhausted. Lily felt guilty knowing Beth had given a full morning working then spent the rest of the day shopping.