Page 80 of Fracture
“What? You guys are crazy. Why did you do this?” Lorelei asked, laughing. She couldn’t believe they were all willing to wear casts for her.
“We figured it was your last night, and we should know what you’ve been through for nearly two months,” Frannie said, stomping her cast on the ground in an awkward walk to say hello.
Lorelei hugged Frannie. “This is just too funny.”
“It was Vinnie’s idea,” Karli said. “He knew you were sick of being in a cast, especially through the warmer weather. He said he wished he could wear a cast to support you, and it just took off from there.”
Lorelei turned to face him. “How did you get a cast?”
“Cole stashed it for me. He handed it over when you came back here, and I slipped it on.” Vinnie grinned, clearly enjoying that they pulled the whole thing off.
“Well, this better be one hell of a party if we’re all in casts.”
“Cast party!” Karli said, lifting her foot high in the air and nearly losing her balance. “Oof.”
“Be careful. You don’t want to end up in a cast for real!” Jessica said.
“Trust me, you don’t,” Lorelei said, hugging her cousin. “This is so great.”
Karli laughed. “I agree. It’s a good excuse for all of us to get together, and it’s fun. Come get a drink.”
Lorelei laughed and followed Karli to the drinks table set up near the patio. “This is insane. I can’t believe you guys are all wearing casts.”
“It’s a cast party. We could have all pulled out our masks and had a masks and casts party.”
Lorelei snorted. “That would have been insane. Someone definitely would have gotten hurt.”
Karli chuckled. “Probably true.”
“What are you two laughing about?” Frannie asked, wrapping an arm around Lorelei.
“I told her we should have worn our masks and made it a masks and casts party,” Karli said.
Frannie laughed with them. “I love being around you ladies. You keep me feeling like I’m not the old lady I know I am.”
“You are not an old lady,” Karli insisted. “You are an inspiration to all of us.”
Frannie’s cheeks reddened. She waved her hand. “You’re too much.”
“Not even close. I don’t know what any of us would have done without you bringing us together and giving us all a place to feel like we belong,” Stacey said. Stacey Allen worked for Frannie, but she was also one of the Curvy Vigilantes.
“I was definitely feeling very alone and lost when I met all of you. I don’t think I would be here if it weren’t for you,” Dawn said, joining their group. “I definitely wouldn’t have created a life that makes me feel like I’m doing something good for the world.”
“You are,” Frannie said, grabbing Dawn’s hand. “And your donation was beyond generous.”
Dawn smiled. “What you do, helping women and children who have nowhere to go… It’s amazing. I know you need the money, and I know you will use it to help even more people to feel safe and to start over.”
“She will,” Stacey agreed. “She’s been talking about the things she wants to do. You’ve made a huge difference for Shelter in the Storm.”
“Good.” Dawn smiled, looking truly pleased to hear her money was going to help people. As a former nurse, she dedicated her life to giving to others, and with billions, she was making sure her lifelong mission was felt by the community.
“Enough about all of this,” Jessica said, dropping her voice, “how are things with Vinnie? He’s a seriously sexy man.”
“Jessica!” Karli hissed.
“Oh, please. You’re not asking because she’s your cousin and you already know. The rest of us want to know if things are going as well as it appears they are,” Jessica said.
Karli and Jessica were college friends who reconnected years later. So many things Jessica said reminded Lorelei of Karli. Lorelei understood why they were such good friends. Adding in Raina as the third one of their group made the trio fun, hilarious, and took away any chance at a filter.