Maddie
Isit inmy car across the street from the restaurant and watch the steel and glass high-rises of downtown Pittsburgh flash in the late-morning sun.I imagine the scene inside… clinking glasses, women’s laughter and fluffy pancakes.
Brunch, Winnie had said.Casual.Come as you are.
As I am is sweaty-palmed and two seconds from bailing.
My phone buzzes with a text from Atlas.You’ve got this.Say yes to the mimosa.
He knows how painfully awkward this is for me, and he’s not wrong to push me to do this.Deep down, I know it.
A second text comes in before I can respond.A photo of Grayce grinning with a foam Titans’ finger someone clearly dug out of a closet.Go, Mom.We’re rooting for you.
“Traitor,” I mutter, but my mouth is already curving and my chest floods with warmth, not just from the wordmombut from Atlas’s inclusive declaration of support.
We’re.
As in…we.
A team.
I take a breath and exit my car, crossing the street at a crosswalk.I take another breath and pull open the door.The scent of citrus and coffee hits me, completely welcoming and strangely grounding.A host barely gets out “Good morning” before a brunette with a topknot pops up in the middle of the dining room and windmills both arms like she’s guiding a plane to the gate.
Winnie.
“Maddie!Over here!”She’s already weaving between tables, a walking sunbeam, and then I’m being tugged toward a long banquette under a wall of windows.Four other women turn, smiling like they’ve been waiting for me.
Winnie squeezes me into the end seat and starts introductions before I can get nervous.“You met me.I’m the chaotic one.This is Penn’s girlfriend, Mila.She’ll feed you even if you say no.”
Mila’s blue eyes are warm.“You can say no.I just won’t hear it.”
“Willa,” Winnie continues, “our resident doctor, dates King, and is often the wild card at these brunches.”
Willa salutes with her straw.“I only ordered one weird thing today.Probably.Hi.”
“Mazzy,” Winnie goes on, “sparkles in human form.She’s got the voice of an angel and just got engaged to Foster.”
Mazzy literally shimmers in a sequined tee.She leans in.“I already love you, I can tell.Is that too much, too soon?”
“Tempe,” Winnie says, pointing at a poised redhead with a surgeon’s watch and a knowing smile.“She’s currently crazy enough to love Rafferty.She sees all, knows all, and is all.”
Tempe shakes her head.“Nope.Just good at reading people.Hi, Maddie.”
I don’t have time to respond before Winnie introduces the last woman.“And Farren”—Winnie gestures to a woman who looks like a fashion model, her smile steady and quiet—“she claims Rafferty as her brother but is more commonly known as North’s girlfriend.”
Farren’s handshake is firm.“Welcome to the jungle.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, the nerves in my voice evident.“Thank you for inviting me.”
The women beam at me, and I can see that they sense my nervousness.A server appears and within a minute slides a slender flute in front of me, gold bubbles racing to the rim.I glance at it, then at Winnie.
She tips her chin, conspiratorially.“You can do half OJ, if that feels safer.”
“I’m fine.”I hear my own voice and realize a drink would probably be relaxing.I lift the glass.“Thank you again.”
They chorus more welcomes, a flock of friendly birds.
It starts easy—menus and food.
