Page 3 of Howl for Me (Moonlight Magic Studios #1)

Chapter Two

The suitcase yawns open on the floor, half-empty already, its contents spilling out in soft, familiar piles of clothes.

I sit back on my heels, rolling a worn t-shirt between my fingers; it still smells like home.

I shake the thought off and keep unpacking.

Not that there’s much. A handful of clothes, a couple of dog-eared books, and a tin of loose change I never got around to spending.

My dad’s old denim jacket that's too big on me but was impossible to leave behind feels heavy in my hands.. I smooth my hands over the fabric, my chest tightening. He didn’t want me to leave, but he was a little more supportive, knowing nothing was going to hold me back.

He’d hugged me so tight the day I left. Told me to be careful, and to my surprise, whispered he was proud of me.

Mom hadn’t said much. She just watched from the doorway, arms crossed, mouth pressed into that tight little line that had been her signature for as long as I could remember. No tears, no dramatic farewell, just a clipped "Don’t expect me to come save you."

As if I’d ever needed her to.

The last of my things get tucked away; clothes folded neatly, books stacked in the smallest, saddest pile on the nightstand. I glance toward the window. The sun has slipped away and I have no clue what time it is now. I let out a slow breath. All done.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knock is quick and impatient, like whoever’s on the other side is already planning on knocking again if I don’t answer fast enough. Probably just a mistake. Someone looking for a different door. Still, I hesitate only a beat before stepping forward and opening the door.

Standing before me is a woman who could stop traffic. She’s tall, with skin the color of honeyed caramel, and cheekbones so sharp they could cut glass. Her auburn hair, teased high and cascading over her shoulders, screams “movie star glamour.”

“Well, hello there, neighbor,” she purrs, exhaling a cloud of smoke from the cigarette dangling between her two elegantly manicured fingers.

Everyone smokes here. I make a mental note to try not to pick up the habit.

I’ve never smoked before. The smell always turned me off of it.

She makes me want to start, though. She stands with her hips cocked to one side like she belongs in some glossy magazine ad.

“I’m Lori. Also known as the welcome wagon. Miss Audrey has told everyone about the new girl, so I thought I'd come over and introduce myself.”

I blink, trying not to stare. “Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Cassidy,” I say, my voice betraying the slight tremor I can’t quite control. I’m still getting used to being around so many beautiful, confident, outspoken people.

Lori laughs, a soft, melodic sound, “Cassidy, huh? That’s a pretty name.” She eyes me up and down in a way that feels both approving and oddly intimate. “You seem like you’re a long way from home, girl.”

I nod, suddenly aware of how small I feel next to her. “Yeah, a small town in Utah. You’ve probably never heard of it.”

Her lips twitch into a knowing grin. “Oh, I know all about small towns. Mena, Arkansas, is where I ran from. I just hide the accent real well.” She lets a little twang slip into her voice, and something about it makes her seem even more charming, like a secret she’s letting me in on.

She steps closer, and before I can respond, she grabs my hand and pulls me across my door frame.

“Us small-town gals need to stick together, right? You’re coming out with me tonight.”

I almost trip over my own feet. “Wait, what?”

Lori giggles, a sound like bells, and before I can protest, she drags me into her apartment.

The place is nothing like mine, with walls covered in eclectic art, the furniture sleek and glamorous.

It smells like expensive perfume and paint.

There are paint brushes and paint scattered in various places.

This art must be done by her, which only makes this beautiful woman even more interesting.

I feel out of place, like a mismatched puzzle piece.

“Don’t just stand there, Cass,” Lori calls over her shoulder, already halfway in her closet, tossing hangers around like a woman on a mission.

“You need a change. I’ve got just the thing.”

I glance down at myself, frowning.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

She peeks out, one perfectly arched brow lifting. “Sweetheart, you look like you just got off a Greyhound bus.”

I cross my arms. “I did just get off a bus.”

“Exactly my point.” She turns back to her closet, triumphant, as she pulls out a dress and holds it up against me. The fabric looks so soft and pretty.

“The minute I saw those bright blue eyes and that beautiful blonde hair, I knew I had to see you in this.”

I hesitate, chewing my lip. The dress is gorgeous; something slinky, something meant for a girl who knows exactly where she belongs in this city. That’s not me. Not yet, at least.

Lori watches me, head tilting. “Come on,” she coaxes, shaking the dress a little. “Trust me.”

And maybe it’s the way she says it, or maybe it’s the way her whole face lights up, like she already knows I’ll say yes, but I do.

Lori stops mid-motion, sets the clothes down, and looks me dead in the eyes.

“Hey. I was you two years ago. Fresh from home in a new city. Scared shitless. I wish I’d had someone to help me through those first few months, you know?

” Her voice softens. “I know you’ve got something to prove out here, just like I did.

But trust me, you’ve got to have some fun, too. That’s how you survive this city.”

I feel the tension in my chest ease. Lori’s gaze is steady, like she can see right through me, and suddenly I realize we’re not so different after all.

She smiles, and it’s like a weight lifts off my shoulders.

“There she is,” she says, before I can overthink it, she thrusts the dress into my arms. “Now go put this on, gorgeous. We’re gonna be late. ”

She turns back to her mirror, running her fingers through her dark waves, tilting her head to admire herself. I hesitate, gripping the dress. Does she expect me to change right here?

Lori catches my wide-eyed expression in the reflection and smirks. “Oh, shit. Sorry, the bathroom's down the hall to the right.”

I let out a nervous laugh and nod, clutching the fabric like a lifeline as I make my way down the dimly lit hallway. The bathroom is small, the kind with pink tile and an old sink that drips faintly. I shut the door behind me and hold up the dress, my reflection staring back at me in the mirror.

Panic creeps up my spine. I can’t wear this.

It’s short and tight. The kind of thing my mother would have a goddamn stroke over.

But then again… she’s not here. Neither is my father.I press my lips together, something rebellious sparking in my chest. I can wear this.

I can do whatever the hell I want. I left home for a reason.

If I want to fit into this wild, glittering city, I need to stop hiding behind my old life.

I need to be bold. I need to be the woman I’ve always had to reign in for other people’s feelings.

I take a deep breath and slip into the dress.

The fabric hugs all the right places, the hem scandalously high on my thighs.

It even has small pockets hidden at the sides.

I barely recognize myself. But when I look in the mirror?

I don’t see the scared girl who got off the bus anymore.

I see Cassidy, the girl who just might make it here.

Lori’s slow clap is the first thing I hear when I re-enter the room. “You are fine, girl! Now you don’t look like one of those tourists anymore.”

I laugh nervously. “This is so nice of you, thank you.”

She waves it off, striding over to me with that confident, almost predatory grace.

She pulls the elastic from my ponytail, letting my hair fall in soft, blonde waves.

“You’re something beautiful, Cassidy,” she says, staring me down with an intensity that sends a rush of warmth through me. “Now, let’s go have some fun.”

She grabs my arm and leads me toward the door.

About twenty minutes later, we are pulling up to what looks like a party.

A party. I'm not sure I'm ready for a party. The house is big, not in a flashy way but in a laid-back way. It’s the kind of place you’d expect to find on a movie set; soft, golden lighting spilling from vintage lamps, and the smell of incense and perfume mixing with the faint hint of something burning.

The backyard stretches out, lit by the soft glow of pool lights that flicker like the stars in the sky.

A soft, dreamy haze envelops the whole place.

People are everywhere, scattered in clumps, drinking, talking, laughing like time doesn’t exist. Music hums in the background from an old record player playing something jazzy and smooth.

I feel out of place, like I stumbled into a world I was never meant to be in. My nerves are all tied up in knots. Doubt starts to creep in. Can I really fit in with these people?

Lori notices how jittery I am, and I feel her hand on my wrist, light and confident. “You okay, babe?” she asks, her voice warm, teasing.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just a little... nervous.”

She gives me a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow. “Honey, relax. We’re gonna have fun. And you’re gonna meet some people tonight, alright? Just breathe.”

I nod, trying to take in her words. She’s so at ease, so sure of herself.

I can barely remember the last time I felt like I belonged somewhere.

She guides me through the crowd, people nodding as we pass, and I try not to stare too much at the groupings of people looking so comfortable in their own skin.

I feel like the odd one out, but Lori is here, pulling me along with her, and somehow that makes it a little easier.

“All right, sweetie,” Lori purrs, looping her arm through mine as she steers me through the low thrum of music and chatter.

She guides me toward a couch tucked into a sunken living room, where two guys are deep in some rambling conversation, their words tumbling over one another like lazy waves.

A strange-looking cigarette passes back and forth between their fingers like it’s no big deal. No one around seems to care.

The guy on the left catches my eye first; he’s got a thick mustache that curls just slightly at the ends and a red paisley headband pushing back a mess of dark hair tied into a lazy ponytail.

He leans back like he’s made of velvet and bones.

The other guy has a wild mop of frizzy curls and a grin that makes you feel like you’ve already shared a joke you don’t remember telling.

His eyes crinkle like he’s been laughing for hours.

Lori slips onto the armrest of the couch like it’s her throne, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, her fingers trailing casually along the one guy’s shoulder.

She glances at the two men with that slow, knowing smirk she seems to wear like perfume.

“Boys,” she drawls, her voice syrupy-sweet, “this is my new neighbor, Cassidy.”

She winks at me. “Cass, meet Reggie and Teddy.”

Reggie turns his head slowly, like he’s underwater, and gives me a once-over that doesn’t feel gross; just... curious. His eyes are sleepy but kind, and when he speaks, his voice is gravel and molasses.

“Welcome to Hollywood, babe,” he says with a grin. I let out a nervous chuckle and brush a piece of hair behind my ear, suddenly hyper-aware of how new I am to all this; the music, the scene, the people who seem to float through life like they’re dancing.

Lori leans in close to Teddy, whispering like she’s telling him a delicious secret. “My new friend here needs a little something to take the edge off. She’s wound tighter than a preacher’s daughter.”

Teddy wiggles his brows. “Say no more.”

He holds out the joint, smoke curling from the tip in lazy spirals. “Here you go, gorgeous. Take a hit.”

My hand twitches like it wants to reach for it, but I rub the back of my neck instead. “Uh... I’ve never actually—” I start, my voice small, unsure. “I’ve never smoked before. Not even once.”

Reggie chuckles softly and kindly. “First time for everything, right?”

The scent hits me fully now; earthy, a little burnt, and weirdly… like a puppy’s breath, and it makes my nose wrinkle as I breathe it in.

“I dunno…” I murmur, still hovering awkwardly.

Lori tilts her head, those big brown eyes sparkling with mischief. “What’s the worst that could happen? You laugh a little too much? Eat someone’s chips?”

Everyone chuckles; even me. I look down at the joint, still smoldering gently in Teddy’s fingers, and then back at their expectant faces.

They don’t pressure me; they just wait. I glance at Lori, and then back at Teddy, who’s still holding out the joint with an expectant look.

My heart is racing, but I know I can’t back down.

This is what I came here for, right? To do something different, to step outside my comfort zone.

“Alright,” I say, my voice just a little too high-pitched.

I take the joint from Teddy’s fingers, feeling a little silly, but also kind of excited in a way I can’t really explain.

I bring it to my lips and inhale, trying to be cool about it.

The smoke burns my throat, and I cough almost immediately.

“Oh God,” I choke out, my eyes watering. “That’s... that’s a little rough.”

Lori chuckles, her voice full of warmth and amusement. “First hit is always the hardest,” she says with a wink. “You’ll get the hang of it.”

Reggie laughs, giving me a friendly pat on the back. “Don’t worry, babe. You’re gonna be fine,” he says with that easy smile.

I pass the joint back to him, still coughing a little, but already feeling a tiny buzz in my head. “See? Told ya,” Lori says, leaning in a little, her voice soft. “Not so bad, right?”

I smile, feeling a little more at ease. “Yeah, not too bad.”

Teddy grins. “See? I knew you were a natural.”

Lori nudges me again, this time a little more playful.

“Now you need a drink to go with that,” she says, standing up.

Before I can protest, she’s already moving, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the kitchen, where the laughter is louder, and the drinks flow more freely.

The nerves that were eating at me when I first walked in start to settle.

I’m still out of my element, but I’m starting to feel a little more like I belong here with them.

“Don’t worry, Cass,” Lori says, her voice low and reassuring. “We’re gonna have a blast tonight. You just gotta let go.”

And for the first time since I got here, I believe her, and I let go.