Read Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love (Lori) BBW Bear Shifter Romance (Hope Valley BBW Dating App Romance Book 5) for Free Online

they'd known instantly that they were meant for each other. They'd have kids some day, but for now, they just wanted to enjoy spending time together. It helped Lori a lot to speak to her. Melissa had lost her baby; Lori had just lost her good-for-nothing husband. Suddenly, it put everything into perspective. She hadn't lost anything; she’d just cast off the parts of her life that she didn't need in the first place. And so, she took several more steps in the healing process.
     
    *
     
    One night, Lori was having a girls’ night in with Andrea, Kristin, Melissa, Dina and Lauren. All the men were taking care of the babies, while the girls were hanging out, chatting, doing their nails, eating chocolate, and drinking Melissa’s legendary mocktails. Lori was very touched that Magnus had volunteered to take care of Nancy. He was hanging out with Lauren’s partner, Connor, so the more experienced guy could give him some help if necessary.
    “Guess what’s happening next week!” Melissa said as she handed Lori a Shirley Temple.
    “What?” Lori replied.
    “Only the Hope Valley spring ball! It's one of the best events in the town’s annual calendar.”
    “Oh yeah. I think I remember my mom and dad going, back in the day.”
    “It's really fun. Everyone in the town attends. It's a good opportunity to dress up and meet new people. And there are always lots of eligible bachelors there!”
    “If there's one thing that Hope Valley’s not short of, it's good looking men!” Lauren said with a cackle. Lori smiled, then pressed her lips together. The girls had been dropping hints about her meeting some men. But she didn't feel at all ready. She'd only been divorced for a month, and Nancy was only a year old.
    “Hey, you don't have to meet guys there. It's just a good opportunity to see who’s out there, so you know that there are plenty of opportunities when you are ready,” Dina said, picking up on her expression.
    “I just feel like it's a little early,” she admitted. “But like you say, there's nothing wrong with a little eye candy!”
    “That’s the spirit,” Lauren said, raising her mocktail. Everyone clinked glasses with her.
    “So is it quite dressy?” Lori asked.
    “You'd better believe it, girlfriend!” Lauren said.
    “Oh. I have nothing to wear. I don't think I've worn a nice dress – well, since my wedding, to be honest.”
    “We're going to change that right away! What are you doing next Saturday?” Lauren said. Lori shrugged. She was too shy to ask anyone to look after Nancy for her. “Nothing? Good! We’ll ask Connor to look after Willow and Nancy, and we’re all going out dress shopping. How about it?”
    “Umm,” Lori mumbled. The truth was that she hated shopping for clothes. Hated changing room lights, and the way nothing ever fit her right.
    “We hate clothes shopping too, don’t worry,” Melissa broke in. “But there are a few boutiques in Hope Valley that cater to curvy girls, and we mix the shopping up with fun stuff, like lunch and going for coffee.”
    “Ok, thanks. That sounds great,” Lori said.
     
    *
     
    The girls were right: shopping could be fun when you were with your best friends. By early evening on the following Saturday, Lori’s feet were killing her from all the walking they’d done that day, and she was the happy owner of a cobalt blue crepe dress. It had a floaty neckline and was loose over her bust, then it cinched in at the waist, before flowing into an unstructured skirt. It was beautiful. It made her look taller and way slimmer than she was.
    “You look great, little sis,” Andrea said, looking at her admiringly. “It really enhances the color of your eyes.”
    When they got home, Magnus was out, and when Andrea called him to find out where he was, they were surprised to discover that he was hanging out with Connor.
    “I’m just getting some parenthood practice,” he said with a shrug, when he came back home with Nancy in his arms. He was trying to