He nodded, accepting it.
The women took over the kitchen next, talking over each other, laughing, unpacking bags like they owned the place.I sat at the table while Cole hovered nearby, pretending not to.
“I let all of the other girls know about girls’ night,” Alice announced.
“Are they okay with not going to Chicago?”I asked.
Alice put her hands on her hips and frowned.“Well, yes, but I also found out that I was not invited.Can you believe that?”
Nikki laughed.“That’s because we’re the actual old ol’ ladies now, Al.We think we’re fun, but I don’t think our kids feel the same way.”
“Adley likes us,” Alice pointed out.
“Then explain why I still feel like I’m thirty?”Carnie asked as she set out plates.“I mean, I’m a thirty-year-old with twin twenty-one-year-olds.”
“Mom,” Clove groaned.
Carnie pointed at Clove.“I am thirty years old, Clove, and you will not burst my delusional bubble.”
Clove held up her hands.“Sure, whatever you say.”
“Hello!”
Alice clapped her hands together.“Eden is here.Come in, honey!”
“Jesus,” Cole muttered.“Are all of you coming over today?”
Eden walked in and gave a shy wave to everyone.“M-m-mom said Aunt Carnie made hummingbird cake s-s-so I’m here to get my slice since it’s my f-f-favorite.”
“Ah!”Carnie called.“I always knew you were my favorite, Eden!”She sliced into the giant white frosted cake and slapped a huge slice onto a plate.She grabbed a fork and stabbed it into the cake.“This one has your name all over it.”
Eden grabbed the plate and leaned against the counter.“What have I m-m-missed?”
“I’m sure your mom let you know your trip to Chicago is canceled,” Nikki said.
Eden nodded with a frown.“Yup.I never g-g-get to have fun.No grad p-p-party and now no night in the c-c-city.”
Alice propped her hand on her hip.“You’d better wipe that frown off your face, girl, because you are happy as can be that your grad party is on the back burner.”
Eden shrugged.“It would have been n-n-nice to get some c-c-cash at the party.”
Nikki stood beside Eden and put her arm over Eden's shoulder.“Just come talk to Auntie Nikki, honey.We can go on a shopping spree to make up for it.”
Eden looked at Nikki, excited.“Barnes and Noble?T-t-target?”
Nikki nodded.“You betcha.It’s just a good thing that the things you like are in my budget.Books and plants.”
Alice bugged her eyes out.“Something tells me your budget is going to be crying after an hour in Barnes and Noble with Eden.”
“Yeah,” Karmen laughed.“I don’t think you know how much a book costs these days.”
Nikki waved her hand at us.“I got it.”
“Right,” Alice drawled.
Karmen sat across from me once things settled, and we were all eating hummingbird cake.“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said honestly.“Still tired.”
