Speaking of friends. I look around the room to find Addie, and she’s still talking to the man in all black.
I leave her be; she’d text or flag me down if she needed saving.
“Yeah, Harrison,” Leo prods. “Tell her the secret you just told your wife.”
Claud scrunches up her nose and puts her hand on her hip. “Daddy. Tell me.”
Harrison hesitates, thinking of what to say. “I was saying I’m going to make chocolate chip pancakes for all of us in the morning.”
Her face lights up, she puts her hands over her head, then spins like the little ballerina she is. “Yesss!”
“Maddie,” Juliette calls to grab my attention. “I want you to meet my best friends, Becks.”
I shake her hand. “Nice to meet you. My bestie is somewhere in the crowd, talking to a mysterious man. I’ll introduce ya’ll later.”
“You both need to come to girls’ night one week soon,” Juliette offers, and Becks nods her agreement.
I falter, not because I don’t want to, but because I sometimes come off as standoffish, and I don’t want them to think I’m a total loser.
“Okay,” I say carefully.
“No pressure at all,” Juliette says softly.
“Don’t listen to her,” Leo cuts in. “Maddie’s socially awkward. But she’ll adore you once she warms up.”
I swat his arm. “Shut up, big mouth.” Then turn my attention back toward Juliette. “I would love to, but he’s not wrong.”
A soft chuckle slips through her smile. “Don’t worry, it won’t be anything crazy. I have like three friends.”
“Count me in. I only have one now. Plus my brother and Leo.” My voice stammers. “I don’t know why I said the ‘now’ part.”
“Because it’s the truth. She was your best friend. You’re allowed to talk about her.” Nate squeezes my hand.
“Yeah. Jules talks to her every day. That’s worse.”
She glares at Leo. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, don’t tell her that. It makes me sound like a freak. You really are a big mouth.”
“Bad word!”
Juliette winces. “Sorry, sugar plum.”
I look around the group. “What do you mean you talk to her? Who?”
“Claudina, you have five minutes, and then it’s time to leave,” Harrison interrupts.
“Nooo,” she wails, throwing her arms up and starting to cry.
“Claudina Rosa.”
“I want to stay.” She throws herself into Juliette. “Please. I don’t want to miss out.”
Even though she’s heavily pregnant, she easily bends and picks up Claud.
“You can stay half an hour longer.” She runs her hand up and down Claud’s back.
“Absolutely not, Juliette.” Harrison’s voice booms frighteningly even to me, but neither Juliette nor Claud is affected.
“Good thing I didn’t ask your opinion.” She widens her eyes.
