“Shut. Up.” Gemma is stunned.
I nod and take a gulp and then lick my sticky thumb. “It’s true. Mask and all, he just does it for me.”
Scout and Gemma look at each other, and their eyes go comically wide before they burst out laughing. It’s the kind of laughter you can’t hold back when something’s taken you completely by surprise.
“Holy shit,” Scout mouths at the same time Gemma claps and squeals, “That’s fucking brilliant.”
“Wait, I’m lost. You’ll have to excuse me, because I should’ve stopped the margarita before last and I’m still a bit jet lagged from our trip, but isn’t that the band Gracen loves?” Audrey asks.
Scout nods. “That’s the one.”
“And Raven is?” Audrey asks almost timidly, like she’s embarrassed to not know.
“Their singer and lead guitarist. He’s gifted, like on a different level gifted. Think Gus, but he also plays drums,” Scout says. I’m impressed; she’s done her research. “His videos are on the agenda for tomorrow morning’s meeting.”
“I love it when he does the screamy thing. Gives me chills.” Gemma rubs her arms.
“Gives me more than chills,” I add with a wink. These margaritas are doing a number on me.
“Ever is Raven,” Lola clarifies for Audrey.
Who slow blinks, astonished. “You literally fell for three different versions of the same man?”
I nod.
Her smile widens in amazement. “If that’s not kismet, I don’t know what is.”
Gemma touches the sides of her head and snaps her fingers apart to mime an explosion. “Mind. Blown. What are the odds?”
“Right?” Lola asks, smiling.
“Sometimes truth is so much better than fiction,” Scout says, and a softer side of her peeks through.
“You live in Colorado?” Gemma asks.
“We do,” I answer. “Lola, Benji, and I live in a little house in the suburbs of Denver. It’s the same neighborhood we grew up in. We rent from Mabel, and she lives in a tiny home in the backyard.”
“Built-in grandma, mom, life coach, and instigator of fun slash trouble,” Lola adds.
“Mabel’s a hoot. Speaking of truth being better than fiction, she’s lived a vibrant life, hasn’t she? She said in the late sixties she danced on Broadway for a year,” Audrey says.
“Broadway is one of the tamer stories. That was after she dated a mobster, but before she lived in a commune in San Francisco. She’s truly done it all,” I add with a laugh.
“She mentioned you started a baking channel online.” Audrey looks at Lola and grins. “I bet there’s never a dull moment between the two of you.”
“Gus said something about it the other day too. When I pressed him for details, he didn’t have any but said he was going to film something with you while you were here. You do realize where Gus goes, Franco goes? That’s bedlam,” Scout warns.
Lola grins. “Mabel’s very persuasive, so we’re counting on it. I’m not sure they stand a chance of backing out now.”
“Gus has a soft spot for anyone over the age of seventy or under the age of eighteen, so there’s no chance he’s backing out. I think he’s more excited about this than you are,” Scout says.
Gemma belly laughs. “Not a chance in hell I’ll be missing that. Those two together are full-on, you’re brave women.”
“Lola’s a content creator.” Audrey’s stating the obvious, but something in Lola lights up like it’s the first time she’s acknowledged the validity of the title. I want to hug Audrey for what she just did for my sister. Audrey looks at me. “And you’re a photographer, Sophie?”
Lola butts in before I can answer. “She’s going to tell you she’s not, that it’s a hobby. But don’t listen to her. Photography is only one of the superpowers in her arsenal.”
I shake my head, but smile when I look at Audrey and concede, “I had a short stint as a photographer when I went out on tour with Ever and Jesse for a few weeks, but I think those days are behind me. I really enjoyed it, but photography will always be a hobby.”
