After the Morning After Read Free

dark hair. And the stark black she habitually clothed herself in only added to the drama. Of course physical differences were to be expected, but Victoria sometimes felt like an ugly wren when in the presence of such bold peacocks.
    She looked over at Addie, whose given name was Adam. He’d insisted on being called Addie since the age of twelve. He was the one responsible for some major changes in her life. Over the past few months, she’d thanked God for Addie’s kindness, which had been masked as arrogance and shallowness. Victoria was from Boston, and though she’d been in the small town of Bay Side in northern California for a few years, she hadn’t really had any close friends until he had practically ordered her into his tea shop. Once there, both he and Bella had cajoled, pampered, and plied her with liquor until she was telling them everything that had happened that night.
    The others didn’t know it, but if they hadn’t been there that night sharing their woes through hard liquor and laughter and encouraging her to do the same, she would have buried herself in her work and quite possibly would have given up on men and relationships for good. She’d had too much bad luck with them.
    “Thank you, Addie,” she said solemnly.
    Addie frowned quizzically. “My banana bread is the best in town, but it’s not that serious. So what exactly what am I being thanked for?”
    “For inviting me in here all those months ago. I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you before.”
    Addie snorted. “It was strictly a business decision. You looked like a drowning cat, and I was afraid you’d scare away potential customers, so it was best that you were in instead of out. Besides, it turned out to be my pleasure, but you’re welcome. Now, let’s get back to the subject at hand: we were talking about dick, right? What’s up with it? Who’s getting it?”

Chapter Two
     
    “That’s the problem,” Bella said with a smirk. “It isn’t up —not for Tori, anyway.”
    “Ba-da- pum,” Victoria retorted and lifted her cup. “But seriously, folks, I’m here all night,” she murmured wryly before taking another sip of tea, smiling when the other two laughed.
    “It is your turn, though,” Addie reminded her. “Both Bella and I have taken steps to get out of our cock droughts, and now it’s your turn.”
    “Yes, darling,” Bella said with a pat on her hand, “that loser has been out of your life for months now. It isn’t as if he’s worth pining over. Is that it? Are you pining over him?”
    Insulted, Victoria raised one perfectly arched brow and just looked at Bella.
    “Oh, pardon me. Guess not,” Bella murmured.
    “As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist anymore. Besides, I’ve gotten on with my life too. I have,” Victoria protested when both of them threw doubtful looks her way. “I don’t dwell on what happened with that anthropoid who called himself a man, and I’ve got my work and you guys.”
    “Mostly work,” Bella commented.
    Victoria held her hands up, palms out. “Well, I do have to make a living, you know.”
    “Is that whining, welching, or both we hear coming from Ms. Thing over there?”
    “Cue the violins,” Bella said.
    “All right, all right!” Victoria muttered. “I’ll do it.”
    “That’s a big girl.” Bella patted her hand in condescending approval, prompting Victoria to chuckle and snatch it away.
    “But seriously, Tori,” Addie commented, “I sense reluctance in you. Do you not want to do it? I mean, I know our little deal to go out and meet other people to get over our breakups was a little silly, but it was meant to cheer us and help us get on with our lives. Is there something you want to tell us?”
    Guilt pricked at Victoria’s conscience again. “You’re right, Addie, I have been holding back. I’d planned to divulge a secret tonight —”
    “Knew you were holding out.”
    “So did I.”
    “Anyway,” Victoria said repressively. “As I was going