Adrenaline pumped through me as I raced to Lianne’s car when she pulled up to the house. She was ready to go just as much as I was, a change of clothes in her bag and all. She stopped for us to swap outfits at the first gas station with a bathroom.
It was mid-morning, and the gas station was empty, thank the Divine. Was it the ideal place for a wardrobe change... ? No. But it was out of Everton, so that’s what mattered.
Lianne told me before we left, and I quote...There is no way inhellwe are going out in these beige-and-cream outfits.
I don’t know why she seemed so against the clothes until I remembered when we went out to the club that not everyone has the Divine’s clothing we have in our closets. It makes sense to change. It also feels good. I don’t think it would be this comfortable to be in these form-fitting, high-waisted jeans, with a corset and a black top that had long sleeves that fell off the shoulders. The heels she put me in today are chunkier than the ones from my eighteenth birthday, and I thanked the Divine for that.
We continue to sing as I watch the club Samuel took us to last time zip by the window.
“You missed the club.” I chuckle to her. “You haven’t even had a drink yet.”
“Oh, we aren’t going there.” She continues to dance.
“But that was the plan.” I turn my body to her.
“That was the plan to have you agree to come with me. The real plan is notthatclub.”
I stare at her in disbelief.
“You lied to me.”
My jaw is still open.
“Yes. I. Did.” Her confidence is so strong I can’t help but smile at her. “I did itbecauseyou need to know what life is like.”
“I know what life is like.”
The words come out more defensive than I intended.
“Life outside of Everton. One in the world of everyone else.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know the rest of the world. Most people don’t get held in a town and are told they can’t leave. Others don’t get a Divine’s chosen husband.”
“I know that...” I whisper. “I wasn’t born in Everton.”
“Yeah, but you arrived there young. The world is a big place. And, yes, I know they saved us, but they also are keeping us from the reality. I got lucky with Mr. Wellingburg. He is not like the other men in town. He lets me live.”
“What are you saying?”
With a deep breath, she glances at me as she pulls into a parking lot. “What I’m saying is...” She gives me a weak smile before whipping into a parking spot and turning to me. “I want you to know the world—as a whole. Not just the town you are confined to.” She wraps me in a firm, warm hug. “Please, just take it all in while you can.”
Lianne is not a touchy-feely friend, so this takes me by surprise.
I nod against her shoulder, and she pulls back from me quickly. “Good! Now, let’s get your sexy ass a drink, huh? Be the woman you want to be right now. Let her fucking shine.”
I giggle at the curse words.
* **
The place we end up at instead is more of a bar than a club. The choice Lianne made of sporting jeans makes sense to me. It’s basically empty at this time of day, but we don’t care. We have been here for a good hour. Two drinks in, and Lianne makes her way to the center of the room. Making the small area between the bar and tables her own personal dance floor.
She sways to the beat as I sip the last of my cocktail Lianne ordered for me. I think it is called a lemon drop or lemon pop. Something like that. All I know is it’s sweet, and I can’t taste the liquor. A win-win.
“Another drink, miss?” the bartender asks, scooping ice into another cup.
I pull my phone out of my purse, seeing how late it is.
