Chapter 99

The room was still buzzing with laughter when Megan flopped dramatically onto the couch with a sigh.

“Okay, but real talk,” she said, fanning herself like the moment had just gotten too hot to handle. “We’ve been in this penthouse being all cozy and adorable for days now… I say we shake things up.”

Abigail raised a brow. “Oh? What did you have in mind? Karaoke? Laser tag? Moonlit rooftop dance battle?”

Megan grinned like she had a secret. “I’m thinking… club night.”

Emma blinked. “A club?”

Ashley’s eyes lit up immediately. “Ooh, I’m in. You mean like real music, real lights, real questionable dance moves?”

“Exactly,” Megan said, sitting up straighter. “It’s been too long since we got dressed up and let loose. No work, no piano scales, no paint-stained shirts—just vibes, cocktails, and a whole lot of bass.”

Abigail glanced at Emma, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “You feeling up for a little clubbing, baby? I promise I won’t let anyone steal me on the dance floor.”

Emma chuckled, eyes warm. “Oh, I know you won’t. And don’t worry—I’ll be our designated driver. Someone’s gotta make sure y’all get back in one piece.”

Ashley nodded. “Respect.”

Emma grinned, then added, “And don’t feel weird about drinking around me. Seriously—have fun. I’ve got my mocktails, y’all got your tequila. We’re golden.”

Megan clutched her chest in mock gratitude. “You’re a saint.”

Abigail stood and clapped her hands. “Perfect. We already have alcohol here, so y’all go get cute and come back for a proper pregame. I’m talkin’ shots, playlists, maybe a dance-off in the kitchen if we’re feelin’ bold.”

Megan’s face lit up. “Say less.”

They headed out to change and, true to their personalities, came back looking like two completely different energies in the same chaotic duo.

Ashley sparkled—literally—in a shimmery, fitted dress that hugged her curves and caught every beam of light. Her hair was styled in soft waves, and she paired the look with strappy heels and a swipe of glittery gloss.

Meanwhile, Megan strolled in wearing olive cargo pants, a fresh white tee, and a pair of black and red Jordans. Her chain glinted in the light, and her curls were pulled back into a loose ponytail that somehow made her look even cooler.

Emma let out a low whistle. “Okay! Serve the yin and yang, then.”

Abigail laughed. “I love this for us.”

Ashley spun in a slow circle. “You like?”

“I adore,” Megan said, biting her lip and giving Ashley a quick once-over.

“And you?” Emma pointed at Megan with a grin. “You look like you’re about to drop a mixtape and a drink at the same time.”

Megan smirked. “Exactly the vibe.”

Abigail popped open a bottle and started lining up shot glasses. “Alright, let the pregame begin! Music’s queued, snacks are out, and I expect at least one kitchen twerk-off before we hit the club.”

Emma raised her mocktail with a playful toast. “To sparkles, sneakers, and a damn good night.”

Everyone clinked glasses—well, glasses and one slightly taller mocktail glass—and the night officially began.

The bass thumped through the speakers, a bouncy playlist filling the penthouse with pulsing energy. The living room lights were dimmed just enough for a party feel, and colored LED strips under the cabinets lit up the kitchen with a moody glow.

Three shot glasses lined the counter, filled to the brim with tequila. Megan, Ashley, and Abigail stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes gleaming with mischief as they stared them down.

“One… two… three—go!” Abigail shouted.

They all knocked their heads back in unison, slamming the tequila like champs.

Ashley hissed through her teeth. “Whew! That one bit back.”

Megan coughed, eyes wide. “Y’all, that one punched me in the chest. I’m gonna feel that in my soul tomorrow.”

Abigail grinned and refilled the glasses. “Round two?”

“Duh,” Megan said, already bracing herself.

They took another shot, giggling and swaying to the beat. Emma stood off to the side with her mocktail in hand, watching the chaos unfold with a warm smile on her face. She didn’t need shots to feel the buzz—this energy was contagious.

Ashley turned, her hips already catching the rhythm of the beat. “Ohhh this is my song!”

“Let’s go then!” Megan shouted, hyping her up.

Ashley wasted no time, backing up to Megan in the middle of the kitchen, hands in the air. She dropped low into a playful twerk, laughing as Megan stood behind her, hands up like “I’m just here to supervise!”

“Hey, hey, ayyyy!” Abigail shouted, clapping along.

Emma laughed from the doorway, sipping her drink. “Y’all really turned my kitchen into a club, huh?”

Ashley popped back up, still dancing, and pointed. “This is your fault. You said ‘have fun.’ We took that personally.”

Megan reached for her third shot. “And I haven’t even started freestyling yet.”

“Please don’t,” Abigail said, laughing as she leaned against the counter. “I’m begging you.”

But Megan was already in motion, doing a goofy two-step before attempting to mirror Ashley’s moves, failing with flair.

“Someone get this on video,” Emma said, pulling out her phone. “This needs to be preserved.”

Ashley and Megan burst into laughter, completely carefree. Megan caught Abigail’s hand and twirled her dramatically, then handed her the next shot.

“To nights we don’t forget,” she toasted.

“To the friends we definitely won’t let live it down,” Abigail added, clinking glasses.

They all drank again, cheeks flushed, hearts light.

“Alright,” Abigail said, bouncing on her toes. “Fifteen more minutes of this and then we hit the club.”

Emma raised her drink. “Y’all better pace yourselves. It’s gonna be a long night.”

Ashley winked. “Oh, we just getting started.”

Another round of shots clinked on the counter.

“Okay, this is officially the last one,” Abigail said, eyes dancing as she poured with only mild precision.

“That’s what you said two rounds ago,” Megan grinned, already holding up her glass like a seasoned pro.

“And I meant it… both times,” Abigail smirked, passing the next round around.

Ashley giggled as she spun on her heels, her sparkly dress catching the light, the hem rising and falling with each twirl. “Let’s just blame it on the vibe,” she said, tossing the shot back and following it with a shameless hair flip.

Megan hollered. “Yes! Sparkle queen activated!” She stepped up behind Ashley and gave her hips a playful little smack as they moved together in sync, hips swaying to the beat from the Bluetooth speaker.

Emma stood off to the side sipping her fizzy mocktail, content, amused, and trying to stay cool as the only sober one in the room. That was, until a pair of warm hands slid around her waist and a familiar body pressed against her from behind.

“You know what I want right now?” Abigail whispered into her ear, voice thick with a buzzed haze and a whole lotta lust.

Emma arched a brow, glancing back over her shoulder. “If you say waffles, I’ll be disappointed.”

Abigail grinned, and in one smooth motion, spun Emma around to face her. “I want you. Just like this. All done up and glowing. You’re so damn beautiful.”

Emma’s breath caught. “Abby—”

But Abigail didn’t let her finish. She kissed her.

It started sweet, a lazy pull of lips and teasing breath. But it deepened fast—Abigail’s hands sliding to cup Emma’s face, her thumbs brushing over soft cheeks, as she angled her mouth and kissed her like she wanted to taste her soul.

Emma melted into it.

She sighed into Abigail’s mouth, her mocktail forgotten on the counter, fingers curling into the sides of Abigail’s top as the kiss grew wetter, longer, and full of heat. Abigail’s tongue flicked out, teasing her lips, coaxing a moan that Emma couldn’t hold back.

“God,” Abigail groaned against her lips. “You moaning into my mouth like that? You’re gonna be the death of me.”

Emma pulled back just enough to grin, cheeks flushed. “You started it.”

“Yeah, and I definitely want to finish it… but you said club first.”

“I did.” Emma slid her hand into Abigail’s curls, tugged gently, and kissed her again. Slower. Thicker. Intense enough that the world blurred. “But I didn’t say we couldn’t get a little distracted.”

Across the kitchen, Megan and Ashley were dancing again—Ashley now fully twerking on Megan while Megan hyped her up between fits of laughter.

“Okay!” Megan called out breathlessly, catching sight of Emma and Abigail. “Y’all are gonna break a hip before we even get to the club!”

Ashley turned and fanned herself. “It’s giving main character love story over there.”

Abigail pulled away from Emma’s lips with one last teasing nibble. “And we haven’t even started the playlist.”

Emma steadied herself, breathing a little harder. “If we make it out of the house without jumping each other again, I’ll be impressed.”

Abigail leaned in to her ear. “I want a slow dance… and then a not-so-slow one.”

Emma smirked, biting her bottom lip. “You’ll get both.”

The four of them gathered their bags, did last looks in the hallway mirror, and laughed their way toward the door. Megan tossed the speaker in her bag while Ashley reapplied a little gloss.

“Alright, my drunk darlings,” Emma said, jingling the car keys, “let’s make some memories tonight. I’ll be your sober chauffeur—moctails and all.”

“We love a responsible queen!” Megan cheered, then turned to Ashley. “Let’s take one more shot.”

“Nope,” Abigail cut in, sliding her hand back into Emma’s. “The party’s already started.”

Emma gave her a look. “Behave.”

Abigail grinned, kissed her hand, and whispered, “Make me.”

Emma narrowed her eyes in mock warning, but the glint in her gaze betrayed her. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Too late.”

Before she could respond, Abigail pulled her in by the waist, their bodies flush, and kissed her again—harder this time. This one was less playful, more claiming. Her hands slid up Emma’s back, one cradling the nape of her neck, the other pressing low on her spine as their mouths moved in heated sync.

Emma gasped into the kiss as Abigail tilted her head and deepened it even further. Her fingers gripped Abigail’s shirt, curling tightly as a soft moan escaped between them. The kiss felt like electricity and gravity wrapped in honey—messy and sweet and too good to end.

Megan let out a whistle. “Okay damn. I take it back—that’s the main character moment.”

Ashley clapped once. “Someone’s gonna have to hose y’all down.”

Abigail broke the kiss with a smug, breathless smile. “Now I’m ready to go.”

Emma blinked slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. “Yeah… same… just need a minute to remember how to walk.”

Still tangled up in each other, they finally stepped toward the door, cheeks flushed and grinning like fools.