“Why?” Lanie says, parroting my thoughts.
“I’m sure she needs more money.” Nina sighs, picking at her fingernails. “She had a botched cosmetic surgery and is tapped out of funds to fix it.”
“Oh, please. The woman is fake from her head to her toes. What more can she need?” Lanie practically spits the words. None of us are fond of Nina’s mother, but Lanie in particular despises the woman.
“This time it’s true. I heard it myself via an unwanted video call.”
My eyes narrow. “You heard it? What, pray tell, does that mean?”
Nina’s lip tips up. “She went back to get bigger implants and now her boobs squeak.” She waggles her eyebrows, grinning so widely her brilliant white teeth are on full display.
“Squeak?” Lanie asks. “Like a rubber duck?”
Nina’s head bobs. “Let’s just say that the neighborhood dogs follow her around. And I am not exaggerating.”
We all burst into laughter. Of all the people for something like that to happen to, the universe got it right this time.
Lanie wipes under her eyes. “Don’t you dare help her fix that. Let her suffer in squeaking until she finds Husband Number Six to pay for it.”
I take a good hard look at my friends, recognizing how lucky I truly am, despite the hardships I’ve endured. Having Lanie and Nina by my side today is something I’ve rejected, but, man, am I glad they didn’t listen.
“I needed this. You two being here,” I explain, and Nina offers me a wide smile. “No matter what I said, I’m glad you ignored it.”
“If I’d known my stories would make you laugh like this, I would’ve been here sooner.” Nina frowns as she rubs her chest. “I’m sorry I waited so long to barge in, Alyssa.”
I wipe under my nose, grunting. “I ate a carton of ice cream and chugged half a bottle of wine. I was fine. Wonderful, even.”
“Ally, why didn’t you call us?” Lanie’s irritated voice draws my attention to the couch. “I would’ve gladly taken one for the team and drank the other half of that bottle.”
“Then you would’ve tried to force me out of this house. Which was something I was avoiding.”
Lanie sighs. “What a shame. I had so many things ready to go.”
“And that is precisely why I didn’t call.”
My hand runs down my face, stopping over my mouth. A cold draft floats through the room and I shiver. It’s the one downside to owning an old home. This part of town is the historic district. It’s a beautiful area full of charm and ornate buildings, but it’s also expensive to maintain.
Neither one of them speaks their thoughts on the matter,allowing me my choices. What’s there to say anyway? It’s my birthday. My decision. The best thing about our friendship is that we all know when to speak and when to remain quiet.
After several long moments of silence, Lanie changes the subject.
“Ava really wanted to come home.”
I wish she were here, but it wouldn’t have been good for either of us. I would’ve made sure to put on a happy face for her, but she would’ve seen through it. No matter how hard I try, Ava knows how hard forty has hit me, and it likely would’ve been the last straw. She would insist on pulling out of school and moving home.
“I know, but she’s where she needs to be. She doesn’t need to be worrying after her middle-aged mother.”
Nina nods her head. “You might be right, but Ava isn’t like other girls her age, Alyssa. She hates that you’re alone. She’s struggling. You need each other,” she says, giving away that Ava calls her more than I know.
I fake a yawn, done with this conversation. Thinking about Ava only makes matters worse. “I want her to enjoy school. She’s living her dream, and that’s what I want for her. It’s what Garrett wanted.”
Lanie smiles sadly. “We all know that girl was made for greatness. She’s probably got her nose stuck in a book as we speak.”
I smile, picturing Ava curled into her purple bean bag chair, sitting in the corner of her room, nose pressed into the book I bought her last time she was home. “Anything is better than sitting by her phone waiting for my calls.”
“What would you like to talk about?” Nina asks, steering the conversation away from Ava. She knows it’s a touchy subject. Ava and I have very different ideas of what needs to happen. I want her to focus on her passion, and she wants to move home to babysit me.When I don’t speak, Nina presses on. “Want a drink? I brought wine.”
Lanie’s phone beeps, and she removes it from her overly large bag, frowning at the screen.
