Chapter Three
It was Sunday morning and Heidi hadn’t gotten home from work until 2:00 AM, so when she woke to hear an obscenely loud knocking at the front door downstairs, she just pulled her covers over her head and ignored it. It was no sooner than the knocking had ceased that her bedroom door flew open and Julie belly-flopped right on top of her.
“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey, Sunshine!”
“Ugh, go away.” She struggled to keep Julie from pulling the covers away from her head. “I’m sleeping, you heifer!”
“Not anymore, you’re not.” Julie finally won, dragging the duvet and top sheet from her until it was a pile on the ground, letting the cool air assault Heidi, who was dressed in her favorite rubber ducky pajamas. “We’ve got some serious packing to do today—and I suspect, shopping, when I discover how lacking your wardrobe is in ‘sexy’ attire.”
That had Heidi grimacing. It was true—her wardrobe consisted mainly of jeans, t-shirts, and comfy sweaters. She learned at fifteen that her father and brothers tended to put her under house arrest if they thought her outfits were too scandalous. Sheesh, one top that showed a little cleavage and they were on her like white on rice. Goddess save her from over-protective males.
“Eeeh, yeah … you may have a point about the clothes. But you know Dad and Hector will be suspicious if I buy a bunch of stuff, and they’ll want to see it.”
“Sweetie, I’m so far ahead of that ass-hat brother of yours, it isn’t even funny. We’ll simply buy a shit-ton of stuff, and you can put the non-dad-approved pieces in my suitcase. Easy.”
Heidi just looked at her best friend for a second, a smirk teasing at her lips.
“Julie, do you spend time thinking of ways to fuck with Hector and my dad?”
“Maybe,” Julie winked. “They both need to loosen up on you, and it’s not fair that they still treat you like a child. Now stop lollygagging and move that huge ass. I smell Carson’s waffles downstairs, and I want some before those behemoths eat them all.”
The thought of her brother’s vanilla waffles under piles of fresh strawberries and whipped cream was all the motivation that Heidi needed. She jumped into the shower and threw on comfortable clothes—she knew that today was going to be a long one, the way Julie could shop. When they finally stomped down the stairs, her father and brothers were all sitting around the table drinking their coffee, waiting for breakfast to be ready.
“Good morning, girls,” her dad crooned, before leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “What has you two up so early and on a Sunday, no less?”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s trouble…” Hector grumbled without looking up from the newspaper. Good thing, or he would have seen the eye roll Julie threw his way. The rest of the table just shook their heads.
“Well, Mr. Jennings, I actually surprised Heidi with a cruise trip for her birthday this year. My cousin Lindy—you know, my Auntie Colleen’s oldest daughter? She works for a cruise ship as an aesthetician, doing hair and nails, girl stuff like that, and she was able to get me a great deal, so we’re leaving tomorrow!” Julie rambled on in one long sentence. “So I’m taking Heidi shopping today, you know, because dinner is always formal so we need some dresses and stuff.”
“A cruise? And you’re leaving tomorrow?” Her father’s face creased in concern.
“I have no idea how a woman can spend an entire week on a ship getting facials and mud baths…” Derek mumbled as everyone’s eyes followed Carson as he set the platters of food down on the table.
“Oh, but there’s tanning and make-up lessons and musical theater…” Julie droned on as she helped herself to a huge cup of coffee—no doubt not her first of the day, judging by how chipper she was. Julie’s caffeine addiction issues were rather notorious.
“Okay, then.” Her dad smiled, clearly hoping that her bestie would stop listing off super girly stuff so he could get back to the pile of bacon in front of him. “You two be careful and make sure that you call me every day so that I know you’re all right.”
“I will, Daddy.” Heidi tucked into her own plate of breakfast, wondering how Julie had gotten so good at manipulating the men in her family.
****
Julie had brought her tablet along so that they could fill out the sensual volunteer intake forms while they were trying on clothes. She’d just stuffed Heidi into the change room with an armful of colorful bikinis before starting to ask questions.
“So, I’ve already filled out all the boring parts of the forms while I was waiting to surprise you with your gift. Now we can get to the juicy bits.”
In her head, Heidi could picture her friend rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
“Are you interested in BDSM? Checkmark.”
“Are you interested in exploring multiple partners? Checkmark.”
“Are you open to exhibitionism? Check—“
“Hey? Aren’t I supposed to be answering these questions?” She stuck her head out of the room, making sure the curtain was drawn tight around her neck. “All these swimsuits you gave me are tiny. As soon as I try to swim, I’m going to be flashing my bits all over the place!”
“That’s the point, and who’s going to be swimming anyway? You know all those European shifters will be sunbathing nude, so technically you’ll actually stick out more if you’re wearing a suit.”
“I am not sunbathing nude, Julie.” She continued digging through the swimsuits until she finally found one vintage-looking red bikini that looked perfect. “It would be just my luck that someone would post a picture on social media and I’d end up grounded for the rest of my life.”
She flung open the curtain and struck a pose in the deep red two-piece.
“You might end up grounded anyway if your dad saw you in that,” Julie whistled. “Wow, you look like some kind of pinup model!”
“It’s pretty fabulous, right?” Heidi had to admit. While in the past, there may have been times when she cursed her curvy frame, now she’d learned to embrace it. “I think I really like the retro look—it’s super cute. Did they have any dresses in the same style? Oh, and I also need a cover-up for the pool. You might as well give me the tablet so I can fill it out while you’re finding me clothes.”
“Me? Why do I have to do all the grunt work?” Julie handed over the tablet with an exaggerated sigh.
“Because you have all the shopping skills, that’s why.” Heidi made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go forth and conquer, bestie.”
She snickered as Julie bounced away. “Oh, and I need cute lingerie sets, too!” she yelled out after her.