Cat
OMG! You’re amazing, Maura!! Of course we’ll come to opening night.
Cat
Do you need any help getting press coverage? I can help with social media if you need it.
Pippa
Cat
You’re going to run out of emojis, Pips.
Pippa
Can’t help it! I’m too excited. Well-deserved.
Brinley
I always knew you were the real deal.
My chest warms. I’m not used to getting such a big reaction to good news. I haven’t always had a tight group of girlfriends to share it with, either—even if they just adopted me for James’s sake.
Normally, I might feel a twinge of guilt. These girls have no idea about my heart condition, which means they have no idea about the risk of loving me. At least they have each other. If anything happens, that’ll make it hurt less.
Maura
Thanks, everyone! The gallery is handling all the promotion, so all I need is your presence, Cat. I can’t guarantee the show will be a hit, but I can promise as much cheap gallery wine as you can stomach.
Brinley
Shush. The show will be freaking amazing.
Pippa
Don’t tell me anything. I want to be surprised, and I want to wear my most sophisticated art-y outfit, and I want to party all night.
Brinley
You’ll still show art at the Copper Cup after you’re famous and successful, right?
Purely for selfish reasons. I don’t want to look at a bunch of boring art at work all day.
Maura
I solemnly swear to be your art hook-up for life.
Pippa
While we’re all here, I’ve got a question for Maura.
How are things in the bedroom?
My jaw drops. Sometimes, I’m still surprised by how straightforward Pippa is, especially about sex. All the girls I knew from private school took the same etiquette classes I did. They’d never be so frank asking about someone’s sex life.
Even though it still shocks me a little, I also love it. I’ve had enough of people tiptoeing around my supposedly fragile feelings for a lifetime. I’ll take Pippa’s blunt sexual inquiries over gentle “So…howareyou?”s any day.
Cat
