“Well, Quincy and I have talked about it. He wants to have five years drug free before we start a family, which I’m totally on board with. We’re both so young. I love kids, but I want that time alone with him before we have babies to care for. I’ve gone my whole life without feeling the way I feel with him. Call me selfish, but I’m not ready to share that yet.”

“Aw, I’m going to cry,” Finlay said.

Penny tossed her napkin. “Here you go, hormone hoarder.”

“I think it’s really smart to wait,” Gemma said supportively. “You’ve both been through a lot, and you deserve to enjoy each other.”

“She’s right. There’s plenty of time for babies,” Penny said. “And I’m sure Kennedy and Lincoln will be happy to fill all of your tiny human needs.”

“So will Axel,” Crystal chimed in. “Feel free to come over between three and four in the morning, which he’s recently declared as party time.”

They laughed and talked as they finished their gingerbread creations and cleaned up.

“Let’s open presents!” Dixie announced.

“I told you I didn’t want presents,” Josie insisted as Sarah led her to a chair.

Sarah gave her shoulder a loving squeeze and said, “Sit down and enjoy it, sis.”

Dixie handed her a black-and-white gift bag with a pink ribbon and said, “This isn’t for you. It’s for Jed.”

Josie peeked into the bag and said, “Ooh la la! I see a Leather and Lace label.” She pulled out a slinky black lace negligee.

The girls oohed and aahed, but all Roni could think about was where she could get something sexy like that to wear for Quincy. The way he’d gone crazy for her heels and ribbons, she knew he’d love it. She missed him again. Even with all these girlfriends, she couldn’t wait to get back home and see him, and see her furniture moved in.

“I’m going to have to google that company,” Roni whispered to Tracey.

“I’ll hook you up!” Dixie said loudly.

“I told you secrets are hard to keep in this group,” Penny said.

Roni shrugged and said, “It’s okay. We’re living together. You guys know we mess around.”

“Hey, Roni?” Gemma said, looking at her phone. “Tru just texted asking if he had the wrong time to meet Quincy. Have you heard from him?”

“He went to the shelter. He might be running late.” Roni reached into her back pocket for her phone, but it wasn’t there. “I must have left my phone in the car. Let me grab it and see if he sent a message.”

She went outside and ran to the car, the cold air stinging her cheeks. She grabbed her phone, and as she closed the door, she caught sight of something in the driveway near the road. She squinted to see better, and as she walked toward it, she realized it was a person. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end when she recognized the clothes Quincy had been wearing when she’d left. She screamed, “Quincy!” and ran toward him, hollering, “Help! Someone help!” His jacket was gone, his shirt torn, and he wasn’t moving. She fell to the ground beside him, and the sight of rubber tubing tied around his arm, just above his elbow, gutted her. “Nonononono!”