“Yes,” Valerie laughed, “The rules are, the hostess makes the rules. So, answer.”
Valerie already knew the answer, but she was having fun watching Sarah squirm. Sarah glanced at Sofia. She turned back to Isabel then took a sip of her wine. Just when she was about to answer she decided to take another sip.
“Quit stalling, Sarah. What’s the big deal?” Valerie tossed her napkin at Sarah.
“It was at the restaurant.” Sarah put her hands, over her face, peeking through her fingers at Sofia.
“Oh, Gawd, Sarah. You really think I didn’t know?” Sofia curled her legs under her.
“Is that bed in the back room still there?” Valerie spent quite a few glorious hours in that bed, back before Alex got his own place.
“It sure is.” Sofia winked, smiling wickedly.
Valerie’s jaw dropped. They all burst into laughter. Sarah always told Valerie how brazen Sofia could be. She’d gotten a taste of Sofia’s gutsy behavior over the years. But to have sex in the back of the restaurant with the possibility of any of her three brothers walking in was pure insanity.
After another hour, not only had Alex, Angel, and Romero interrupted them several more times, but Eric joined in on the check-in calls. Sofia stood up. “Alright, hand them over.”
Sarah handed hers over, looking very remorseful. Isabel laughed, tossing hers at Sofia without argument. Any other night Valerie would have gladly handed it over, but tonight Alex would hit the roof if she didn’t answer her calls or return his texts. “My dad hasn’t been doing well. I can’t turn my phone off.” She felt terrible using her dad. But it was true. Her dad hadn’t looked very well when they’d gone to see him that week. Her step-mom let her in on the dizzy spells he’d been having for days. Sofia almost gave in.
“Don’t fall for it, Sofia. He can call her on the house phone. He’s the only one who ever does.”
Valerie glared at Isabel. Sofia held out her hand. She handed the phone to her grudgingly. “I won’t turn them off, just set them on vibrate. You’ll be allowed to check if your dad called periodically. But the guys aren’t going to die if we ignore their calls for the rest of the night.”
Valerie wasn’t so sure about that. Sofia placed all the phones on the coffee table. “I need a refill. Anyone else?”
Sarah stood up. “I do.”
Sarah helped Valerie off the floor. They moved the party into the kitchen. Isabel threw some appetizers in the oven and poured a few bowls of chips. The girls dug in and continued to play Truth, laughing hysterically at times.
Even through all the laughter, Valerie couldn’t stop thinking of what the guys must be thinking with none of them answering their phones. Alex was probably having a fit.
CHAPTER 23
“Ooh I love this song,” Valerie hurried into the front room to turn the volume up. She didn’t really love the song, but she was dying to check her phone. She leaned over, sneaking in quick look at the girls who were very much into the snacks and still laughing.
She turned to the coffee table. All four phones had blinking indicators of missed calls and texts. Pretending to dance, she inched her way closer to the coffee table. It didn’t matter that the song was a slow soulful song she still shook her thing, bending over as part of the choreography.
Grabbing the phone with one slick move, she continued to dance with her hands swinging behind her to hide the phone. She turned around sensually, so her back faced the girls and continued to dance as she read her texts. She had several. She read the most recent.
Angel’s going nuts, Val. Why aren’t any of you answering?!
There was no way she’d have time to respond to all or even read the rest. She hit the keys quickly to respond at least to this one. All the while, she continued to dance.
“Are you texting?” Sofia sounded appalled.
“Get her!” Sarah yelled.
Valerie jumped on the sofa, giggling, trying desperately to hit send, but the phone was knocked out of her hand when Sarah jumped on her, followed by Sofia. Isabel grabbed the phone off the floor and read the first part of her text aloud.
“Sorry, babe, my phone was off…” She looked up at Valerie. “Seriously? You’re apologizing for ignoring his calls for what? An hour?”
Valerie smiled sheepishly. “He worries.”
Sarah stared at her own blinking phone. Isabel took one look at her then at the blinking phones. “Not you too? Alright, we’re going to have to hide these, Sof.”
Sofia took all the phones and dumped them in her purse. “There. This is my first girl’s night, and Sarah’s last as a single girl. We’re not gonna let the guys keep interrupting us.”
Isabel high fived her, “Amen, sister!”
Valerie’s stomach roiled. She was going to have to find a way to let the guys know what was going on before they all came pounding down her door. She’d never forgive herself if she were forced to let Sarah know what was going on and have her worry unnecessarily. Tomorrow was supposed to be one of the best days of her life. Valerie knew this would definitely throw a damper on it.
Time ticked away as the girls continued to eat, drink and be merry.
“I should stop,” Sarah said staring at the mozzarella stick in her hand. “My dress is kind of tight around the middle. I’d hate to look bloated.”
“Oh, please,” Isabel huffed. “You don’t have an ounce of fat on you. Don’t you run like twenty miles a day?”