Ava’s smile is as wide as the Grand Canyon.
Harper starts to slow clap.
“Why are you happy? Did you not just hear what I said?”
“Oh yeah, we heard,” Ava says, nodding. “You fucked Brooks, and it’s about damn time. Was it good? Where were you? We need details.”
“Details,” Harper echoes.
So I tell them. I start from the beginning, seeing his lights on, taking him dinner, and everything that happened until he left my apartment that night.
“You’ve been struggling with this for aweek?” Ava demands. “Why weren’t we your first phone call?”
“Because … I don’t know, you guys, I’m not good at being a friend.”
The air fryer dings, and Harper holds up a finger.
“Stop right there. Let’s go to the kitchen.”
We file in, and Harper sets the burritos on plates, and they smell so freaking good. I don’t even know how much I’ve eaten in the past week, since I’ve been so up in my head.
“You’re a good friend, Juliet,” Ava says after taking a bite.
“I’m so out of practice,” I admit with a sigh. “I used to have friends, especially in college. But Justin made sure thathewas my only friend and isolated me from everyone.”
“Wait, who’s Justin?” Harper asks, and I share a look with Ava.
“My late husband.”
Harper’s burrito drops onto her plate with aplop,and she stares at me with wide eyes.
“What?”
“He was yourhusband?” Ava demands.
“It’s a whole thing.” I sigh and roll my shoulders, trying to get the kinks out. “A long-ass story.”
“I’m wide awake and here for it,” Harper states. “Spill it. Tell us everything.”
“Tell useverything,” Ava echoes. “And no leaving stuff out this time. You told me about your history with Brooks from before, but you didn’t say that Justin was yourhusband.”
“This is a whole lot of drama.”
“Great. Tell it.” Harper rolls her hand in amove-alonggesture.
And an hour later, when we’re back in the living room, and I’m exhausted and crying, and we’re all just staring at each other, Ava says, “Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck.”
“But you’re having sex,” Harper says.
“No, wehadsex. Once. And it was just fucking. Actually, now that I think about it, it was hate fucking. Because the man can’t stand me.”
And that’s what makes me the saddest of all.
“I call bullshit.” Ava shakes her head. “If a man hates you that much, he doesn’t fuck you. No matter how good it is.”
“Agreed.” Harper nods. “He may be angry, and he might notwantto want you, but he does, Jules.”
