But I’d probably give in. Seeing them this happy, on their trampoline without a camera in sight? Yeah, they could have all the ice cream they wanted.
EMILY
I’d just finished laying out the last plate on the coffee table when the doorbell rang. I took a breath before crossing to answer it. Time to be fine. Totally fine and not at all a lonely loser.
I opened the door to chaos.
Hannah pushed past me first, wearing dinosaur pajama pants and an oversized hoodie, her curly blond hair piled on top of her head. Samara was right behind her, carrying a canvas tote that clinked suspiciously. Maya brought up the rear, looking a little worn around the edges as she hugged me.
“We’re here and we brought reinforcements!” Hannah announced, heading straight for the coffee table. “Holy shit, Em, did you buy out the entire cheese section?”
“There’re three kinds. That’s not that many.”
“That’s exactly two more kinds than necessary.” She grabbed a piece of the Irish cheddar and popped it in her mouth. “Okay, fine, I take it back. This is delicious. What is it?”
“The one with the crystals.”
“The what now?”
“The little crunchy bits. Those are cheese crystals. It means it’s aged.”
“Ooh la fucking la! It tastes amazing!”
That made me smile as the tension eased from my shoulders. This chaos was a balm compared to the silence I’d been drowning in.
Samara set her bag on the counter. “I brought extra wine.”
“Why would we need extra wine?”
She gave me a look. “Because it’s Saturday night and Maya said she needed to get drunk. Direct quote.”
Before the door could even latch, three more bodies squeezed into the hallway. It was a tangle of hugs and wine bottles as Mia, Cassidy, and Annie spilled in.
Mia immediately pulled me into a hug that lasted just a beat too long.
“I missed you,” she said into my shoulder.
“I saw you yesterday. At work.”
“Not the same.” She pulled back, her gray eyes searching my face. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because you’ve never lived alone before and I’m betting dollars to donuts you don’t like it.”
“I’m great, honestly,” I lied.
Annie was already pouring the wine, handing me a glass, which I took gratefully.
Poppy arrived last, her pink hair piled high, slightly breathless and carrying a bakery box. “Sorry I’m late! Had to finish a wedding cake, and the bride changed her mind about the flowers at the last second, and then I thought, well, if I’m already covered in buttercream I might as well make something for tonight.”
“You panic-baked,” Hannah said, grinning.
“I don’t panic-bake.”
“You absolutely panic-bake.”
“Well, if I do, at least everyone benefits.” Poppy set the box down and immediately grabbed a wine glass. “Also, I made those lemon bars you like, Em.”
