“It isn’t anything to worry about!” her mother said, rubbing her shoulder against Lily’s. She was the same height as Lily, and they were built relatively the same. Lily liked that she looked like her mother, though her mom had thinner lips and always joked that she didn’t know where Lily had inherited her boobs from. “I just thought it would also be nice because it’s your birthday.”
Lily was unconvinced, but her mother was unmovable. Diana didn’t say or do anything she didn’t want to. “Fine, but you’re being weird,” Lily said, adding, “Oh– I invited Hanna and her parents too.”
She felt her mother slightly stiffen. “You did?”
“Is that alright? It’s not like there won’t be enough food. I saw what you bought, we have enough for a football team.”
“Oh, well, yes, I just wished you’d have told me.” Her mother, who was rarely unnerved, looked a bit pale.
“Yeah sorry? I hang out with Hanna as much as I do Maya, and since you and Maggie are going to be there, I told her she could bring her parents.” Lily’s anxiety started to snowball, but she kept her voice calm, not wanting to betray that the girls were coming out tonight over dinner. What was going on with her mom? She made a mental note to bring something stronger up to the treehouse later, just in case.
“Makes sense,” her mother said, sounding flustered and strange. “I uh—I’ll just go check on some things.” She quickly moved from the room, leaving Lily in a flurry of uncertainty and unease.
Late afternoon came more quicklythan Lily had prepared for. Ever since the run in with her mother earlier that day, she’d been tangled in her thoughts, trying to figure out what was possibly going on. She’d been distracted and sent a silent thank you to Maya for putting in the extra effort to reassure Hanna in their group chat.
Hanna was dressed casually, in a cotton tank top and jean shorts, but because she thought this moment festive, Lily threw on a purple lipstick she wore like twice a year, which also was about how often she wore lipstick.
Once outside in the back of the house, she made her way down to where her mother was grilling.
“There she is! Ah and purple, nice, looks so great with your hair,” Diana said, smiling. All of the discomfort from earlier had apparently evaporated.
“This looks amazing Mom, thank you,” Lily smiled.
“Sure thing! You know, you never had any parties here, this is fun. I wish I could have done this more for you when you were little.”
“Mom, you never asked if I wanted to do anything,” Lily countered, though she wasn’t truly surprised by her mom.
“Well honey, my approach was to let you lead,” her mother said genuinely.
“I was a kid,” Lily started, but then thought better of it. “Doesn’t matter, thank you for this today.” She leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek, then felt her phone buzz.
Papaya Maya
Let’s get this thing started. I am here.
Hanna Banana
We here!
Lilith
Guys I want a fruit nickname
Papaya Maya
You get what you’re given
Hanna Banana
Lilith is BADASS. Now come get us!
Lily slidher phone in her pocket. “Looks like everyone’s here,” she said over her shoulder as she made her way back into the house.
“I dig the purple,” Maya said as she, Lily, and Hanna moved towards the backyard, their parents in tow.
“Thanks, I wanted to be festive. You two look amazing,” Lily said, and it was true. Maya looked gorgeous and chic as always in a pair of flow pants and a cropped v-neck, revealing her golden brown skin in patches Lily wanted to lick. Her curls and coils were loose and she’d done her makeup. Hanna was stunning with her long black hair in a high ponytail and simple makeup, save for a shimmery layer of gold eyeshadow that worked well with the rosiness the summer had put into her pale skin. She wore a purple maxi dress that Lily noticed accentuated her bust in the best way.
“When was the last time you were here?” Lily heard Mary McAvoy ask Maggie.
