“Your husband’s balls.” I laugh, and Ciara snorts.
“I’m being such a bitch to him. I swear, I have no control over anything anymore. He doesn’t even need to open his mouth and I’m biting his head off.”
“I think he can take it. Besides, I thought of something that might cheer you up.” I set the tray down on the bedside table and climb onto the bed beside her.
“Oh?”
“I thought we could have a girls’ day. Ronan said we can invite Mila and Lucy over and sit out by the pool, drink mocktails, and eat junk food.”
For the first time in a while, Ciara’s whole face lights up as she grins. “That actually sounds amazing.”
Lucy arrivesa few hours later with enough takeout to feed an army, and the three of us set up outside.
Ciara stretches out across the daybed under an umbrella, and I curl up in the armchair beside her as Lucy sprawls on a lounger in view of the full sun.
The air is warm but not to the point where it’s suffocating, and the pool glitters in the sunlight.
Lying here surrounded by friends makes it easy to forget that I am technically living inside a cage.
While we wait for Mila to arrive, the three of us sip our mocktails.
Lucy turns to Ciara. “Tell me all about your renovation plans for the house.”
Ciara brightens, and the way they talk makes it seem like they’ve known each other for years, just like I thought would happen.
It brings a smile to my face seeing these two different sides of my life come together, even if it’s only for an afternoon.
The sun is high when the doorbell rings.
I’m setting down another round of mocktails on the table by the pool when a moment later, Mila sweeps into the backyard like she owns the place, with sunglasses perched on her head and an NYU tote bag dangling from her arm.
“Ladies!” Mila holds up her bag. “I brought chocolate. None of that seventy percent cacao nonsense that tastes like sadness, but the good kind.”
Ciara groans dramatically as she eagerly reaches for it.
“Finally. If Ronan brings me another protein bar, I swear to God?—”
“Poor man.” Mila drops the tote into Ciara’s lap and kisses her on the cheek. “He’s trying to keep you alive, and you’re over here threatening him.”
“Alive? Yes. Happy? No.”
Lucy and I laugh as Mila collapses into a chair. She’s just how Ciara described. Effortlessly chic with her cropped black hair, bright red lipstick, and long, lean limbs.
After some quick introductions between Mila and Lucy, I set out the food, and the four of us quickly dig into lunch.
Mila navigates around a mouthful of pad thai. “So, tell me, how are my godbabies doing? Causing chaos yet?”
Ciara sighs. “Constantly. One of them has hiccups right now, and the other is kicking me in the ribs.”
“You deserve it. It’s payback for the time you convinced me to wear white jeans to Ed Garrison’s house party.”
Lucy perks up, glancing eagerly between Ciara and Mila. “Oh, story time! Do tell.”
“Oh, it’s simple. She swore that I wouldn’t regret my outfit choice because it was meant to be a chill gathering. But half an hour into the party, some idiot drops a full solo cup of sangria down my leg. I looked like a walking crime scene.”
We burst into laughter, and Ciara hides her grin behind her drink.
“Okay, but you were an idiot for trusting me in the first place. Besides, I’m pretty sure it led to you and Ed hooking up in the laundry room at his parents’ house.”
