"That would be awkward."
"That would be hilarious. See you at seven."
She hangs up, leaving me smiling at my phone.
I text Ethan.
Me: Book club emergency meeting tonight. I'm going to head out around six.
Ethan: Everything okay?
Me: They want details about you.
Ethan: Should I be worried?
Me: Probably.
Ethan: Will you come back after?
My heart skips.
Me: Do you want me to?
Ethan: Absolutely. I want you here with me.
Me: Then yes.
Madison's apartment is already full when I arrive. The girls are spread across her living room. It’s amazing that we have the ability to meet in person like this, but with many of their jobs being mobile, it works out.
"She lives!" Holly announces when I walk in.
"I've been busy."
"Working or making out with your hot doctor?" Amber asks innocently.
Heat floods my face. "Working. Mostly."
"Mostly," Madison repeats, handing me a glass of wine. "Interesting qualifier. Sit and spill, but not the wine. We want every detail."
I settle onto the floor next to Emily. "There's not much to tell."
"Liar," they chorus.
"We kissed," I admit. "Once. In his kitchen."
The room erupts.
"I KNEW IT," Holly shouts.
"How was it?" Chloe asks, leaning forward.
"On a scale of one to ten," Maya adds, "how weak did your knees get?"
I take a sip of wine. "Fifteen."
More shrieks of delight.
"Okay, okay." Madison waves her hands for silence. "Details. We need details. Was it soft and sweet? Hard and desperate? Slow burn or instant inferno?"
