Lexi
I heard they opened one of those wine and painting places in Saint Paul. We could get one of the guys to be our driver for the night, get a little tipsy, and paint the worst artwork known to humanity.
Isla
That sounds really fun and also like you’ll all laugh at my terrible art skills.
Mira
Probably. But we’ll all be laughing at each other.
Lexi
Yay! Blair, are you in?
Isla
She’s working, and way more professional than any of us, so she probably hasn’t seen these messages yet.
Mira
Definitely more professional than me. I’m sitting at the desk in my office in a dirty tee and underwear. #bossbitch
I snort out a laugh at that but also wish I could be doing my work in my panties. That sounds nice. I used to walk around in nothing but a tank top and undies all the time when I had my own place. But now with Reed… Well, I don’t want to traumatize my brother any more than he already has been.
Me
I’d love to hang out soon, but you don’t have to plan around me. I have Reed, and he made it onto the football team, so life is about to get more hectic over here.
It takes no time at all for the women to text back, and I grin.
Isla
That’s amazing! Go Reed!
Lexi
We could do something near his school when he has practice! Or we could just bring coffees and snacks and sit in the bleachers with you while you watch.
Mira
Definitely. We’ll plan it around you. Whatever works.
It catches me off guard how much that easy declaration makes my chest tighten and my eyes fill with tears. I don’t even know these women, and they’re already putting in more effort than the vast majority of my friends did when I got custody of Reed. God, I’ve missed having friends.
Me
You really don’t need to do that.
Mira
Girl. We’re going to. Don’t fight it.
LOL. Well, a friend is picking Reed and her nephew up from practice on Friday, and then they’re having a sleepover. So Friday would work for me if you’re all free.
Isla
That would be perfect. The guys don’t have a game that night, so we can make one of them chauffeur our drunk asses around. Pretty sure they’re having a guys’ night, and Madds always ends up playing the designated driver. He won’t mind doing it for us too.
