Zariahwas hard to miss in a crowd. She had the features of a living Barbie doll. Her hair was styled into a bun with two twist strands spilling around the edges. Her body held slim shoulders and hips that were nothing short of perfect.
From behind the shades she wore, Emily met Zariah’s eyes. Instantly, her mask slipped. The wheels of her carry-on wobbled as she stumbled into her friend’s arms.
“What did that bastard do to you, Emmy?”
It was exactly what she needed to hear: that nickname.Zariahhad called her that since they were kids, back when Emily’s biggest dream as a child actress was to win anEmmy. The pun hadn’t been lost on her friend, and somehow, it had stuck.
“I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve known you were right. You’realwaysright,” Emily croaked against her shoulder.
Zariahpulled back and framed her cheeks in her hands, almost causing Emily’s sunglasses to fall off. “You know I never liked Jake for you.”
“I know,” Emily breathed in resignation.
Her friend looped an arm around Emily’s shoulders, steering her toward the exit. “I expected him to slip up eventually,” Zariah confessed. “Just be glad it happened before you walked down the aisle.”
“Chelsea said something similar.”
“As expected.” Zariah grinned. “How’s my girl doing?”
She said it like they didn’t always talk over the phone.
Chelsea andZariahwere two peas in a pod. Both were always ready to take the world by storm. Beneath all that bravado though, they were the biggest softies she knew. The kind that baked cookies and cried at every dog commercial.
“She’s trying for law school again.”
“Isn’t this her third time?”
“Fourth,” Emily corrected. “Her new professor’s hot. Apparently, he’s worth sticking around for.”
Zariahguffawed, but Emily noticed how she’d stepped in front of her, shielding her from the passengers hustling by. Her heart swelled seeing that habit from years ago.
“The car’s waiting. Javier made that pumpkin soup you liked the last time you visited.Istocked your favorite snacks and tea.”
Emily pressed her cheek against hers. “I love you, Zee.”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”
When they made it to the Davis-Rodriguez estate, therein the kitchen, apron tied over his crisp dress shirt, was Zariah’s husband, Javier. The chef was taller than Emily remembered. His face lit up with a charming smile.
He pulled his wife in first, kissing her temple softly. Zariah melted. Then he turned to Emily with a tentative hug, as if he was scared to break her.
“Mija, you’re too skinny!” Javier cried, patting her back.
“She’s fine,amor,” Zariah cut in, elbowing him in the side. “And what’s that smell? Are you burning the bread?”
“Don’t joke like that,” he snapped in an accent. “Go. I’ll bring you girls some tea.”
After Emily put her luggage away, her and Zariah were curled up in the guest bedroom under a comforter. Zariah tugged Emily’s head onto her lap, threading her fingers through her waves. They went over everything that had happened to her. Jake’s infidelity, Stella’s pregnancy and how they both had her fooled.
Zariahlistened, a myriad of emotions flashing across her face. They went from anger to hurt and then finally concern.
“You still want kids?” Emily asked suddenly.
It came after a prolonged silence, following Zariah’s teary-eyed consolation and the repeated assurance that it was Jake’s loss, not hers.
Zariah’sfingers stilled in Emily’s hair. “Yeah. We’ve been trying. It hasn’t been easy though.”
“Yet you still love him.”
