Nat, Stacy, and Cami had all ganged up on me and decided they needed to take me to the other side of Illusion, Verity. I’d been a bit of a grouch and anxious all week as I waited to hear back from the PI Mitzi had sent me. I finally had an appointment with him, so that boosted my morale. I’d hoped to take out my frustration with kickboxing, but Wells had texted he needed to push it off for a few days as his employer was still getting things settled. I’d been more disappointed than I would’ve been a few months prior, and I couldn’t decide if that was terrifying or growth.
My mother’s calls were sent to voicemail and then promptly deleted. I’d even blocked Brian’s number. If they couldn’t get into my head, then I’d be one step closer to figuring out the twisted game they were playing. My dad had called once and I’d answered, and then he traitorously gave the phone to my mother, so now he was also on the ‘do not answer’ shit list. Boundaries were a beautiful thing.
“Come on, slowpoke!”
Cami pulled my hand, leading me into the club, and I wondered how I let them talk me into this. The fact Cami’s and Nat’s faces were full of mischief scared me. Stacy hadn’t been here either, but Cami had whispered in her ear after they’d decided to go, giving her a clue to what it held.
Me, not so much. Traitors.
“It’s going to be fine, Lor! You’ll love it and it will be awesome! We wouldn’t take you somewhere that wasn’t.”
Cami had a point, but the secretive looks told me there was something they were worried about. They’d dressed me in a silky number that resembled more of a negligee than an actual dress, but with the stilettos and lingerie I had on underneath, I felt confident in it.
We came to the crosspoint, the beautiful woman standing between the two doors smiling at us. However, what shocked me was when Cami walked up to her and gave her a scorching kiss. When she pulled back, she turned to me smiling, holding out a hand for me to draw closer.
“Loren, this is my girlfriend, Lark.”
“Oh my goodness,” I gushed, rushing forward and wrapping my arms around her. “It’s so nice to meet you.” Lark hugged me back, laughing at my exuberance. It kind of shocked me as well, but I went with it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Loren. I’m so happy Cams made a new friend. She talks about you all the time. I can see she’s been at work dressing you too?” She lifted her eyebrow at Cami, the seductive glint unmistakable now I was closer.
“What? Lor’s got a great body, and with those long legs of hers, she can wear almost anything. She’s like a life-sized doll. It’d be a crime not to.”
“And I need all the help! Cami has been a Godsend. I would’ve been so lost on my date with….” I trailed off, clearing my throat as I realized I almost said his name. The girls looked at one another, awkwardness entering. “Well, yeah. It’s so nice to meet you, Lark. And by the way, you smell amazing, like I want to rub up against you just so I can take it with me.”
Thankfully, my obscure comment had everyone laughing, the awkward moment forgotten. Like you, the voice whispered in my head, reminding me how replaceable I was to the men in my life.
I wanted to berate it to go back to where it belonged, but ever since Jude had told me Nicco approached him, I’d secretly been looking for him everywhere, hoping he’d seek me out. It had been a week, and he still hadn’t. I was beginning to realize that perhaps I hadn’t meant as much as I’d assumed.
Melancholy washed over me, and I was surprised when Lark led the others over to a separate locker room. Stacy tugged my hand, pulling me out of my forlorn stupor. I pretended I knew what was happening since I’d zoned out, but when they started to undress, I couldn’t stop the question from leaving my mouth.
“What the Hell?” Unfortunately, it only caused them to laugh and not answer me.
“Told you she wasn’t paying attention.”
Lark walked over, grasping my hands as she looked into my eyes. “Verity is all about seeing the truth, no shields. Where in Illusion your identity is hidden, offering you anonymity, in Verity, you shed the outward things that hold you back.”
Peeking over her shoulder, I started to realize what she meant. All three girls stood in nothing but their high heels and lingerie, and they were smoking hot. Cami was all confidence as she sauntered over, hips swaying, and her red hair in waves around her. It accentuated her black lace bra with a low demi cut, and her panties were more of the hip hugger type and made entirely of lace, making them practically see-through. She looked terrific, and I found myself licking my lips. She was enough to make any woman question their sexual preference.
“She’s smoking, isn’t she?” Lark whispered, and I immediately felt terrible for ogling her girlfriend. When she saw my look, she shook her head, smiling at me. “Don’t feel bad. I know how you feel. It’s hard to resist her when she turns her full Cami charm on you.” Lark licked her own lips, almost looking like she wanted to pounce on her girlfriend as she neared. She turned her back, taking the temptation out of our line of sight, and finished telling me what I’d missed.
“There are different rooms with varying degrees of ‘truths’ you can explore. Just remember that everyone is on their own journey to the truth, and it looks different for each of us. Some need to find out who they are, others, to explore a side of themselves they repress in the outside world, and some even to fall into the role they don’t normally get to be. It’s a safe place to do it. There are only two things to remember in Verity. Are you ready for them?”
I nodded, biting my lip as I waited to hear what I was about to enter, fear gnawing at my stomach.
“First, enter with an open mind and willingness in order for Verity’s power to work and set free the part of you that’s buried or chained down. And second,” she leaned forward, whispering, “is the word bananas.”
She pulled back, a twinkle in her eye as I considered her words. “Bananas?”
“Yep,” she winked before walking over to the other three girls and whispering something in their ears as well. I watched as she skated her hands over Cami’s body, nibbling her ear as she did, and damn if that wasn’t hot. I found myself getting aroused from their show alone.
Nat’s hip bumped mine, her purple lingerie standing out against her olive skin and brown wavy hair. “You don’t hate us?”
Shaking my head, I wrapped my arm around her waist. “No, of course not. I get why you kept it a secret, but you could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have thought anything different about you.”
“We were more worried you would’ve chickened out. Sorry,” she cringed, squishing up her nose.
Chuckling, I shook my head again. “No apologies needed. I get it. And I’d like to say I wouldn’t have, but you were probably right, even if I don’t want to admit that about myself. I’m feeling a little anxious, slightly turned on by Cami and Lark,” I laughed, “but overall excited, I think.” I shrugged one shoulder before looking at her.