No, thank you.
My phone dinged again. I smiled when I checked the screen.Skylar. He was one of my very best friends and the keeper of all my secrets.
Skylar: How’d the ceremony go?
Skylar: Did you cry?
Me: Yes, bitch. Of course I cried. My little girl graduated.
Skylar: I’ve met Marjorie. She’s, like, six four in stocking feet.
Me: You know what I mean.
Skylar: Is Kessie upset that you’re running late to his party?
I laughed and sent him screen caps of our conversation.
Skylar: Oooh, girl. He’s got it bad.
Me: Whatever.
Skylar: Did you not see how jealous he sounded?
Me: Girl.
Skylar: GIRL.
Me: This little conversation is making me even later.
Me: And the Bashes brought their sangria.
Skylar: I need to try that one of these days.
Me: Careful. That shit’ll make you question your sexuality.
Me: I’ve heard Mama Bash does excellent strap work, though.
Skylar: Don’t tease me with a good time, Virginia.
I rolled my eyes.
Me: I’m driving away now.
Skylar: Okay. Text me when you get in safe.
Me:
I checked the time and cursed under my breath. There was a time when I thought Woody was the only person in the world who cared whether I lived or died, but I was coming around to the fact that a whole lot of people cared for and depended on me. As stressful as that could be, I was a lucky, lucky man.
Who was running late for a very important party.
2
KESS
I was wearingaThick Thighs Save LivesT-shirt layered over my crisply tailored Burberry button-down, which could only mean one thing: my housewarming party was in full swing, and everyone was drunk on high-octane sangria.
Including me.
