There’s a beat where no one talks before Emery breaks it. “Okay, practical check in. Are you okay right now?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent,” she says. “That means you weren’t spiraling.”
“Does my orgasm count?”
Maya hums. “Not in the way Emery means, but sure. That good?”
I admit, “Better than I’ve had in years.”
Christin nods. “If you were spiraling, you’d be talking around the issue.”
“And apologizing more,” Maya adds.
“And already drafting lists of ways to convince yourself it really wasn’t a problem,” Emery finishes.
I smile despite myself. “You all know me too well.”
“That’s our job,” Christin says.
Maya shifts, pulling her knees closer. “What scares you about this?”
I don’t answer right away. “That it felt…right. Familiar, maybe?”
Emery winces. “Oof. Familiarity is dangerous.”
“But right is honest,” Christin counters.
“I know,” I say. “I just don’t want what was supposed to be a goodbye kiss out of nostalgia making decisions for me.”
“It started as a kiss?” Emery explodes.
Christin cackles. “How many seconds did it take for your pants to find their way to the floor.”
As dignified as possible, I haughtily declare, “I was in the math pajamas Maya gave me.”
Maya mutters, “Should I be grateful they didn’t disintegrate in the making of your wall sex?”
Christin mutters, “I’m wondering if I need a pair.”
“I thought you were getting some?” I ask, confused. The last I knew, Christin was casually dating someone.
She flicks her hand. “For another time.”
“You’ll get a pass for tonight,” I warn.
Begrudgingly, she mumbles, “That’s fair.”
Maya says. “One thing, Amy? Don’t dismiss the woman you are now. You built her out of the strength you didn’t know you had untilafterBrennan.”
“She’s right,” Christin chimes in.
Emery adds, “With work. And boundaries. And a spine of steel.”
I laugh softly. “I didn’t expect this level of support.”
Christin raises an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t you?”
