Free Of Flame and Promise by Cecy Robson

rushed over. “Taran, you look beautiful,” Emme said.
    “No she doesn’t, she looks hot,” Shayna said, with a smack to my ass.
    I hugged Celia when she smiled softly. Although I didn’t want to get all girly, it was hard then. She, like Emme and Shayna, knew how important this day was for me. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I…just thank you.”
    “You’re welcome, Taran,” she said quietly.
    I let out a breath when I pulled away, trying not to lose it again. “How much do I owe you for the dress?”
    “Nothing.”
    I frowned. “Come on, Ceel. I can’t let you pay for this.”
    “Consider it a gift,” she said, motioning to Emme and Shayna. “From all of us.”
    So much for not getting girly. I hugged them tight when they gathered around me. More than once I’d wondered what I’d do without them. God willing, I would never find out. “Thank you,” I told them, my voice cracking as I struggled not to cry.
    “It’s going to be okay, Taran,” Emme said.
    “You’ve got this, T,” Shayna agreed.
    I hope so.
I released them carefully and walked into the kitchen, snagging the apron draped over the counter. “What needs to be done?”
    “Nothing, we got you covered, T—oh, except for the fried tofu with peanuts. It will need to bake for a few minutes and then be topped with sprouts and the sauce.”
    “You can put it in while you’re adding the shrimp to the baked toast,” Celia added.
    I was almost too stunned to speak. “Wow. You girls totally went above and beyond—” My head jerked when I remembered something. “I forgot the sake.”
    “What?” Emme asked.
    I untied my apron and tossed it aside. “Gem mentioned how his father and mother enjoy this particular and rare kind of sake. It’s expensive and hard to find, but I called a spirits shop in South Tahoe and the owner hooked me up. He ordered it from an upscale restaurant in Japan and had it shipped to his store.” For the almost three-grand price tag and an additional handling fee, I didn’t add. “It’s at his shop. I meant to pick it up yesterday when I hit the grocery store, but I forgot.”
    Shayna skipped (because that’s how girlfriend rolls) to the coat closet. “Here. I’ll go. Come on, Emme.”
    “No. That’s okay.” It wasn’t that I wouldn’t trust those two with my life—because I would. I just wouldn’t trust them with my sake. After their “help” in my room, I was worried they’d drop the bottle. “You’ve already done enough.”
    “It’s really not a problem,” Emme said. “We’re happy to help.”
    There was that word again. I spoke through a tight smile. “Really, it’s okay. I got it.”
    Ceel tried to suppress her grin, likely scenting my lack of faith in our girls just then. “Taran probably needs a distraction to help her relax. Why don’t we stay and tidy up so she’ll be all set when Gem’s folks arrive?”
    Celia’s reasoning was the something shiny they needed. I grabbed my keys and off I went.
    Little did I know I was in for a lot more than I’d bargained for.

Chapter 7
    Bastard ghetto liquor store.
    It was bad enough it was on the shoddier side of South Tahoe. But then the owner had to behave like a little prick. He placed the dark glass bottle in front me like some grand prize and smiled. “You’re in for quite a treat, beautiful,” he said. “This is a rare find—”
    “Save it for someone who’ll believe your crap.”
    He loomed over me, using the full bulk of his three-hundred-pound-plus body to try to intimidate me. Have I mentioned I don’t intimidate easily? “What did you say to me?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I stutter?” I jutted my chin and glared back at him. “I said you’re full of crap, and so was your mother.” I pointed at the bottle. “That’s some cheap knockoff that goes for fifty bucks at any store.
My
sake—the one I’ve paid close to three grand for—and the one you swore you’d have for me—doesn’t look anything like this. So