Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 9

I woke up late on Saturday, and when I sat up in bed, I figured that it was for the best. After all, I had no one to spend it with...

I sighed and piled my hair on top of my head, then just padded downstairs, yawning all the way.

"Morning, sunshine," Dane grinned, looking ridiculously fresh as he started on my breakfast. "I was about to send out a search party."

I yawned widely and waved his words away, settling comfortably at the counter. Maybe after breakfast I'd crawl back into bed...

"What's up today?" he asked.

I shrugged. "No clue. I'm probably just staying in."

"Cool. Then you can hang with your big bro."

I raised a brow. "Yeah, no. I know what Kian's like on Saturdays. You guys stay away from me."

He laughed and set my food in front of me, then left me to myself in the kitchen. As usual I ate ravenously and cleared up after. The doorbell rang just as I walked into the hall, about to put my earlier plan into motion. Curiously, I watched as Dane went to get it.

"Let's get this party started, people!"

Anya stormed in past a stunned Dane, her arms full of shopping bags. Amber ran in after her, giving Dane a timid smile as she passed him. They both carried backpacks and had shopping bags in their arms.

"Today is a girls' day in!" Anya continued, completely ignoring my brother. "Oh, hey! Cool, you're still in PJs. Great, 'cause that's all you're going to need today." She turned to Amber. "We got everything, right?"

Amber nodded vigorously and sent a smile my way as well.

"Okay, you know what to do. And make sure all phones are off," Anya directed as Amber came forward and timidly took my hand, leading me up the stairs. Anya turned to Dane. "Do not disturb. And if your species comes through that door, keep it away from us. Belle's room is a sacred space today."

I choked on my laughter at my bold friend as Dane grinned, "Hi back?"

Anya huffed and stomped up the stairs after us. Amber had drawn me to my room, and when Anya walked in she slammed the door.

"Okay, first things first," Anya said, and Amber nodded again. They placed the shopping on my desk - completely covering it in bags alone - and dropped their backpacks.

"Okay, what's going on?" I asked as I sat on my bed and watched them pull out PJs.

"Girls day!" Amber squealed excitedly. "We haven't had one in months!"

I couldn't help my grin at her excitement - and Anya's grim determination. "And why today?"

"We need it," Anya huffed, already in her string top and tiny black shorts. "You need to get a hell of a lot of anger out, and I need to do something before I commit murder."

Amber sent me a sympathetic look - apparently things with Derek weren't getting any better. Anya tied her hair back, then raised a brow at Amber - who of course had brought a pink nightshirt. Shaking her head in a dismissive gesture, Anya grinned at me. "Right! Let's do this!"

"Should I be worried about you sounding like a drill sergeant?" I asked conversationally.

"Before we start, we need to make sure we're on the same page." She went to my desk and attacked the food bags. Amber joined her and together they unpacked a ridiculous number of ice cream tubs, lots of snacks, chocolate and - clearly as an afterthought - drinks.

And I finally got into the spirit of the thing. I stood up excitedly, and we spent the next few minutes discussing ice cream flavors. Anya then crossed over to my laptop, attached her flash drive and turned on my music player, turning the volume way up.