“After Naese disowned his parents,” Paloma said. She’d stepped out of the closet, holding one of my blouses on a hanger. “I like this. Where’d you get it?”
“Vintage consignment shop in San Francisco,” I answered. “Pax disowned his parents?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to cause strife between them.”
“You didn’t,” Keelie called from the bathroom. She poked her head out. “Finished putting away your toiletries, and don’t even think about moving out of that gorgeous bathroom or I’ll pinch you. Hard.” She narrowed her eyes.
“Those people and their choices created this situation,” Naomi said. “They’re reaping what they sowed. Don’t worry about them or Naese. We’ve made sure he’s taken care of.” She had a no-nonsense tone that made me wonder what else she’d taken care of.
As I group, we trooped back down the stairs, and I settled between Millie and Keelie as Paloma and Ida Jane whipped up some appetizers to go with the tea and cookies. Evidently we needed fuel to watch the game.
“Don’t worry, we won’t use the stove. That first time is for you and Naese,” Ida Jane said.
My flush made Naomi and Keelie giggle, but Millie was off on the other side of the room, changing her daughter’s diaper. Bree, I’d learned, was the oldest of the babies at seven months. Brooks, Keelie’s son, was five months, and Naomi’s son, Felix, was just past his three-month birthday.
“How’d you manage the timing for that?” I asked.
Naomi snorted. “Copious amounts of sex.” Millie returned in time to fist-bump her. My eyes widened.
Paloma settled a platter or cheese and fruit on the coffee table. “Ignore them, especially Naomi. She’s back in the honeymoon phase post-baby.”
“How do you turn on Naese’s TV? I swear, these guys have more remotes than NASA,” Keelie griped.
I giggled. “No, they don’t. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Paxton tried. He wanted to be an aerospace engineer.”
All of the women turned to focus on me. “Well, I didn’t expect that,” Naomi murmured.
“Do tell,” Millie said. “I adore the thought of Naese with a pocket protector.”
“Oh my gosh.” Naomi gasped. “He would be the hottest guy in that room.” She waved a hand in front of her face.
I couldn’t help but giggle again.
“Here, you do it,” Keelie said, exasperated. She dropped five remotes in my lap. After studying them for a few moments, I managed to turn on the TV and get it to the right channel for the game.
“Apparently it takes a NASA scientist to turn on the jerk’s television,” Millie said. She winked to let me know she was joking.
“Now, spill the goods,” Ida Jane said. She popped a grape in her mouth and looked at me expectantly.
“What do you want to know?”
Millie leaned forward. “Everything.”
“I already told you?—”
“About the breakup,” Naomi said, leaning forward. “But we want to know all the goods on Naese.”
The other women nodded.
So, I started talking.
Chapter19
Hana
“The guys scored,” Paloma said after I’d finished telling them about growing up down the street from Paxton, my brother’s struggles, and my mom’s vindictive control, all of which had contributed to Paxton’s eventual decision to break up with me.
After a brief hesitation, I added the details about my miscarriage and Paxton not responding to the texts I’d sent him until he showed up in California.
Millie sat, a piece of popcorn almost to her lips, just staring.
