Nicole’s smile grows softer. “I know. It feels like we blinked and here we are.”
“Time just disappears without us even realizing,” Ellie muses, shaking her head as her eyes grow distant. Our server comes back to the table with three salads, setting them in front of each of us, along with fries we ordered to share.
When I said their brunch menu was amazing, I didn’t mean we’d order anything but our normal meal we get when the three of us are together. Girl dinner can be had at any time of day, honestly.
“Just think,” Ellie starts as she pierces some of her lettuce with her fork. “You’re going to a brand new city, with new people who don’t know every embarrassing thing you’ve done.”
“I’m pretty excited about that. They’ll know the version of me now, not all the cringy versions I’ve been in the past.”
I tilt my head to the side, chewing a bite of salad and swallowing it before adding, “So, are we just baggage now?”
Nicole laughs, her eyes turning glossy for a fraction of a second before she blinks it away. “You two are my favorite baggage.”
“The highest compliment,” I smile, amusement dancing in my expression.
“It truly is,” Ellie says, nodding.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” Nicole says after a moment, her voice barely audible. “More than either of you understand.”
Emotion washes over me and the corners of my eyes burn. I will not cry here in the middle of the café. “Like you said, we’re only a few hours apart.”
“And we’ll talk every day,” Ellie adds before taking a sip of her water.
Nicole slowly nods in agreement. “You guys will have to come visit too.”
“Girls weekend in the big apple?” Ellie smiles, glancing at me with a mischievous grin.
I smile back at her. “We’re so there.”
The conversation shifts as we finish our salads, our mimosas, and argue over who gets the last fry. The server comes over to clear the table and refills our waters, not the mimosas.
Nicole leans back in her chair, giving me that look that says I’m about to be the center of attention. And I know exactly what it’s going to be about.
“So,” she says casually, a smirk toying with her lips. “You never did tell us about the gala.”
“Oh yes,” Ellie says eagerly, leaning forward in her seat as she sips her water. “You must tell us everything.”
“I mean… there’s no law that says I have to.”
“Oh, please,” Ellie rolls her eyes. “Only the first rule of best friendship says that.”
“Come on,” Nicole presses, raising her eyebrows. “You’re the only one dating a swanky, professional athlete. Indulge in our fantasies, babe.”
An exasperated sigh escapes me. “You two are so annoying.”
“You love us,” Nicole retorts.
“Spill,” Ellie says at the same time, swirling her straw in her water, creating a cyclone shape with her ice cubes.
“The gala was great.” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “It was a masquerade ball, which I didn’t realize until we got there. The venue was amazing, the food and drinks were so good, and it was just a lot of fun.”
Nicole raises an eyebrow. “What a generic answer.”
“There was an annual charity auction where they auctioned off a ‘date’ with the players, but really it’s just for time spent with them doing something they both agree to.”
Ellie’s face lights up. “Did you partake in the auction?”
“I did.” I smirk, the façade of coolness finally breaking. “I bid on Matteo and won.”
