“That’s the most selfless act I’ve ever seen,” Nicole whispered.
“Pfft. Only because it followed years of selfish ones,” Naomi said. She bee-lined back to the kitchen and pulled out the pints of ice cream she’d brought over a little while ago. Grabbing spoons, she handed me the carton of double chocolate fudge brownie before popping the top off her caramel swirl. She dug in.
“I was really enjoying my full-on hate of her,” Naomi muttered.
“You can keep that,” Ida Jane said, pointing her spoon at Naomi. “She arrived in town prepared to break up Cormac and Keelie.”
“Good point,” Nicole said, shoveling a bite into her mouth. “This is good.”
I scowled down into my creamy chocolate goodness. I put a spoonful into my mouth, but the ice cream didn’t soothe my aching belly. “I should have let him explain.”
“Yes, you should have,” Ida Jane said. She’d been on Team Cormac all day.
I scowled at her.
“Shhhh! She’s having a breakthrough,” Naomi said.
“She needs to hurry up so I can stop eating ice cream. This shit makes me bloat, but dammit, it tastes so good. Ireallyneed to move into happy-dance mode,” Nicole mumbled.
“Are we going to watch the game?” Ida Jane asked.
“Shhh!” Nicole said.
“I’m turning it on. I can’t miss Adam’s game,” Naomi said.
Cormac had never given me a reason, not a hint, that he even glanced at other women until yesterday. My insecurities, thanks to my father, were as much to blame as Shannon’s continued love for a wonderful man.
I burst into tears.
“Oh, oh. Why are you crying?” Ida Jane sounded panicked. “Um, Kee, stop crying b-because if you d-don’t, I-I’m going to start… Shit!”
Ida Jane burst into noisy tears, dropping her forehead to my shoulder. We sobbed and heaved until I was spent. Ida Jane took another moment to calm down. She took the tissue I offered her, and we both mopped our faces.
With a huff, she picked up her carton again and licked the melting concoction from the spoon. “You have to be my BFF for life now that you made me snot on you,” she said.
“Of course.” I nodded. “You already were, anyway.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “You’re the best bestie.”
“We’reallBFFs,” Naomi snapped. “Now eat your ice cream. We need sustenance if we’re going to watch the game on this tiny TV.”
I picked up my carton and tried another spoonful of the melted, creamy goodness. This time, my stomach felt a little better.
Chapter55
Keelie
“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I muttered as we walked down the long hallway toward the locker room.
Naomi slurped her soda, unperturbed by my growing dismay. “One, you look super cute. Two, you’re bad at relationships and wanted my advice, which I gave you. Three, you realized your guy is super fucking amazing, and you wanted to dish a bit of that love back.”
The temporary tattoo stretched on my cheek as I scowled. I eased my face back into neutral lines. “I feel ridiculous.”
“And you might look ridiculous, too, but what’s more important? Your pride or your love for your guy?” Ida Jane piped in from my other side.
The only one of our crew missing was Nicole, and that was only because she had to parent her kids. Naomi, Ida Jane, and I had road-tripped up to Dallas this morning. And now that I was here, I was panicking.
I crossed my hands over my belly, giving it a surreptitious rub. “You don’t have to talk so much sense. It’s irritating.”
Naomi raised a brow as she took another long pull of her soda. I laughed as I turned away.
