Homemade egg rolls were crispy, golden, and steaming when Carnie set them onto a platter.Firecracker chicken with a glossy sauce, sweet heat, and little flecks of red pepper clinging to the pieces.Fried rice in a massive pan, studded with vegetables and bits of scrambled egg.
The room collectively made an “ooooh.”
Nikki clasped her hands together like she was praying.“Carnie, I would die for you.”
Carnie waved her off with a laugh.“Get a plate, drama queen.”
Eden bounced on her toes, stuttering through, “Th-this smells s-so g-good.”
“It always does,” Wendy said, already grabbing napkins.
I loaded my plate probably more than I should have, but Carnie’s food had that effect on people.Like your body forgot how to be reasonable.
I carried my plate to the big table where Adley, Raven, Wendy, and Cora were already sitting.
“Sit,” Adley said, pointing at the open seat beside her.
I slid in gratefully.
Raven eyed my plate.“Good to see you’ve got an appetite.”
“I’m recovering,” I said.“My plate is this full for medical reasons.”
Wendy laughed.“Sure it is.”
Cora leaned over her own plate.“How are you really doing?For real.”
The question was gentle, but it was real.These women didn’t do fake concern.They were blunt, but they cared.
I took a bite of egg roll, and my eyes practically rolled back.“Oh my God,” I murmured around the bite.“Carnie is a wizard.”
Adley grinned.“Yeah.We’ve been telling you.”
I swallowed and wiped my mouth, then answered Cora’s question.“I’m doing a lot better.Bruises are basically gone, except for my stomach.I think there might be a permanent boot print there, but I’m staying awake longer.Only one nap a day now.”
Raven lifted her fork.“Look at you.Upgrading.”
“Next week she’ll be unstoppable,” Wendy said.
“I already am unstoppable,” I joked.
Conversation flowed easily after that.
Girls’ night came back up.Who was buying what, who was absolutely not allowed to pick costumes because last time, Wendy had chosen something that involved a purple wig and an unfortunate incident with a ceiling fan.
Eden kept reading costume ideas off her phone between bites, stuttering more when she got excited, which was often.
“Th-there’s a p-p-possessed b-b-baby one,” she announced, eyes wide.
Raven choked on her drink.“Why would that exist?”
“B-because the w-world is s-s-sick,” Eden replied, dead serious.
Adley laughed so hard, she had to set her fork down.“I’m getting it for you.”
Eden’s eyes widened.“N-no.”
“Yes,” Adley said, already reaching for her phone.“It’s fate.”
