31

BLOOM’S POV

The moment Steph, Kelvin, and Caleb saw me, they each shook their heads at Ray who stopped talking immediately, and clenched his hands in a fist, and turned around to face me.

So as not to not make things awkward, I didn’t give any indication that I had heard them, but smiled in greeting and said hi. I gave a hug to Steph and got a belly rub in return, then a side hug for the rest of the men because I wasn’t comfortable fully hugging them.

“Thanks for waiting for me. I took a little time because I couldn’t decide what to wear,” I said to Ray, and his eyes scanned my clothes.

“I think you did well with that.”

I blushed at the appreciation in his voice.

“You look really good,” Steph said. “Tell me, what did you do with that horrible turtleneck?” An awkward silence followed after Steph’s question. “I mean,” she laughed nervously, “where did you find those leggings? They’re to die for.”

“‘They’re to die for.’” I laughed when Caleb started to mimic her.

“In my wardrobe,”