BOUND 2 (GxG)

Karty the Party

"You're sure I'm not intruding?" I asked.

Karter sighed, putting the Jeep into park, "For the thousandth time, you aren't intruding, I swear," she said, but I could only look around at all the cars parked outside Karter's house. Karter reached over, grabbing my hand, "My mom's invited you personally—they literally gave me a death threat if you weren't present at the table... You don't want me to die right?" she asked, earning a playful smile from me.

I shrugged, "I don't know—"

"Didn't I tell you I'd haunt you in the afterlife?" Karter cut me short with narrowed eyes. "I'm going to be the most annoying ghost ever—why would you even wish that on yourself?"

I laughed slightly, earning a small smile from Karter, "I'd use sage or something to keep you away."

Karter smirked, unbuckling her seatbelt, "Oh, trust me, nothing will keep me away, babe," she said, opening her door.

Suddenly, I felt like we were back to reality—Karter always managed to distract me when it came to conversation.

Reluctantly, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened my door, hopping down from the tall Jeep as Karter waited for me at the front of the car.

Upon entering the familiar house, I could immediately hear chatter and laughter—along with classical music playing softly in the background.

I looked over to Karter hesitantly, but she only flashed me a comforting smile, nodding a few times as if to say, you'll be fine.

We walked through the foyer and into the living area—and almost immediately, I spotted Nina and Nancy in the kitchen with Ryan and an unfamiliar dark-skinned woman. Over by the dining room table sat two older couples conversing while two older women sat at the kitchen island, drinking red wine.

"Ahh, Sloan, you made it!" Nancy cheered, throwing the dish towel down and running over to me.

Nina smiled as Nancy pulled me into a big hug, "I absolutely adore your outfit," Nina said, her blue eyes taking in my appearance fully.

I was dressed in a thick cream knit sweater that folded over at my neck with black leggings and matching cream and white Nike Sacai's. My dark hair was down with a few pieces braided back out of my face and I wore light makeup with my usual gold jewelry.

It was clear that Karter purposefully wanted us to match.

"That would be me," Karter said, jokingly brushing off her shoulder.

I rolled my eyes, nudging her slightly, "But my clothes themselves are cute."

"But I'm technically the one who matched the outfit together—so the credit goes to me," Karter argued back, which caused me to narrow my eyes at her.

Both of the women seated at the kitchen island laughed, "They are just like you guys, Nina," one of the women said.

Nina laughed along with Nancy who guided me over to the two women.

"This is my mother, Tina," Nina said, motioning over to the blonde woman with faint grey hair.

Tina's similar blue eyes landed on me, smiling warmly, "It's nice to meet you, Sloan," she said, raising her glass slightly as her smile grew.

"And this is Ryan's wife's mom, June," Nancy motioned to the older dark skin woman who had the most perfect curls I had ever seen.

The woman by Ryan's side, raised her hand, "I'm Ryan's wife, Serenity," she added, displaying her white teeth as she and Ryan iced the carrot cake.