“FINALLY, WE AGREE!”
“Volume, Den. Okay, I’m behind the wheel. My phone’ll switch over—” There’s a pause then a sound clicks. “—now.”
“Did I tell you Francine’s pregnant?” My new stepmother, ladies and gentlemen!
“No, you didn’t tell meFrancisis pregnant.”
“Frankie didn’t waste any time, did she?”
“Well, they’re probably having a lot of sex.”
“Ugh.”
“The joys of marrying an ex-puck bunny who settles for a sports agent.”
“Double ugh.”
His chuckle is orgasmic. “Come on, Den. Keep on talking.”
“Why?”
“Because if Pecan learns I had to carry you out of the bar, he’ll never let you forget it.”
“Why am I friends with boys again? You just don’t appreciate the sanctity of a secret.”
“Says you! You hold shit against me all the time.”
“Self-defense 101. If you can’t beat them, join them.” When Freya pops up in front of me again, I chirp, “Zach’s coming to rescue me, Freya.”
She scowls at my lemons and plops them in the bowl behind the bar. “I bet he is.”
“What’s that mean?” I sputter as she swipes a towel over the counter.
“What did she say?”
“She said that she bets you’re rescuing me.” I glance at her beadily. “Explain.”
She shrugs. “Just saying I’m not surprised he’s coming to pick up your drunk ass at 2 AM.”
“I used to call his mom when he sneaked into his place. Do you remember that, Zach?”
“I do.” His voice turns gentle. “Thanks, Den.”
“She probably knew.”
“Mom knew everything.”
I love and hate it when his voice turns that silken kind of soft. It rarely comes out. It’s a mixture of love and misery and grief. I always want to hug him when he talks like this.
“You need to get here faster so I can hug you.”
Freya pauses mid-swipe. “Keep it clean. I don’t need to hear this.”
“I saidhug, Freya. I didn’t say I’d sit on his dick.”
As Zach chokes in my ear, she retorts, “Like you wouldn’t if he offered.”
That knowing gleam in her eye has me echoing, “He’s Zach.”
