“And I guess I’m moral support,” Isabella says, smiling and winking.
“Thank you, guys.” Valeria is teary-eyed at the fact that her friends are rallying around her like this. She’s always known she’s lucky to have them, has never questioned that fact, but it’s especially hard to ignore when they do things like this just because they know she’s a nervous wreck.
“You don’t need to thank us, silly. We are your family, and this is a big day!” Lily says, wrapping her hand around Valeria’s. “We’re more than happy to help you get ready.”
“Still, thank you.” Valeria squeezes Lily’s hand back.
Almost twenty years of friendship, andall of it traces back to a single afternoon when a loud-mouthed Alejandra had dragged a shy Clara behind her and introduced both herself and Clara to everyone—Isabella, Lily, and Valeria. From then, she’d gather them all up to hang out, as if she’d already decided they were going to be best friends.
A few minutes into Alejandra working on Valeria’s foundation and Lily separating her hair into sections, there’s a loud pounding at the door.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Alejandra asks.
Valeria shakes her head.
“I’ll go look,” Isabella says, like she is preparing for a fight.
None of them says it, but Valeria knows their mind went exactly where hers did ... Brooke.
Valeria hasn’t heard from her in months, but she’s not naive enough to think that Brooke is above showing up unannounced or that she meant it when she said Valeria would never see her again.
They all stay deathly quiet as Isabella opens the door and steps out. If Valeria knows them the way she knows she does, she can almost guarantee all of them are trying to hear through the closed door, trying to decipher the muffled sounds. Valeria would be lying if she didn’t admit she’s doing the same.
Seconds later, Isabella walks in with a massive bouquet and a smirk on her face.
Everyone takes a collective sigh.
“Someone can’t wait to see you,” she says, waving around a card. Isabella clearly opened the envelope to make sure the flowers weren’t from Brooke, but Valeria can’t seem to care. She’s grateful her friends look out for her.
Isabella hands her the envelope, and Valeria’s nervesinstantly ease at the thought of Camila. She takes the note from Isabella’s hands and reads it.
Thinking about you. I know I saw you this morning, but I miss you and can’t wait to see your pretty face tonight. - Cam
“Aww,” a voice says from behind Valeria, and when she turns, all four of her friends are standing over her, reading the note alongside her.
“You’re all so nosy,” Valeria laughs, pressing the note against her chest.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t be doing the same thing if it were any of us.” Alejandra gently swats Valeria’s back, before taking her seat in front of her again and reaching for the mascara.
Valeria doesn’t refute it because it’s a fair point; she absolutely would, and has. Instead, she reaches for her phone and texts Camila.
Valeria 1:26 p.m.:
The flowers are beautiful, thank you! I miss you. I can’t wait to see you.
Camila 1:26 p.m.:
I’m glad you liked them! T-2 hours!
Camila 1:27 p.m.:
Also, Zoe isn’t nearly as good as you at putting outfits together. She has made me try on at least five outfits, and they’ve all been ... questionable. So if I show up looking a mess, it’s herfault.
Valeria laughs at the thought of Camila looking anything but perfect.
Valeria 1:27 p.m.:
I highly doubt that’s possible.
