Page 114 of Sweet Heart

I nod and grin at her, despite the flurry of emotions that are rushing through me right now.

“Wow, Mary, that is amazing!” Isa beams, and Celeste nods.

Carmen stays uncharacteristically quiet, though, and I feel that in the pit of my stomach. Her smile has faltered, and her lips are pressed together, her eyes solely fixed on me now. My heart thuds against my chest under her scrutinizing gaze, and I feel myself tremble. The group grows quiet and glances at her too, but it isn’t until Isa places her hand on Carmen’s shoulder that she lets go of the breath she was holding. And just like that, her face is flooded with tears.

Carmen lunges forward and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me as close to her as she can. I nearly suffocate against her warm skin, but she squeezes me so tight that it feels as if she’ll shatter if I move away from her now.

“I’m so fucking happy for you,” she whispers in my ear as her tears fall hot on my shoulder. “So fucking happy, Mary.”

I meet Cat’s gaze over Carmen’s shoulder. Her eyes are beaming with love and pride. She fishes a bottle of Baileys out of Celeste’s cooler and grins at me.

“Your kind of bubblies, amor.”

This is my home. This is my family, and I am never letting it go.

***

Isa smirks when Carmen stuffs her face with a tamale and then bites into her taco. We are all ravenous after a day filled with sunning, swimming, and a hilarious game of flag football. Our spirits are high, and our laughter fills the small restaurant. It is so contagious that the owner comes up to us with free shots of tequila and a big pearly grin.

“On the house, ladies.”

“For real?” Riley and I gasp at the same time, and his grin only grows bigger.

“Yep. Looks like you are celebrating something, and that should come with gifts.”

“Thank you!” Riley moves up to kiss his cheek, and he hums happily as he walks back to the kitchen.

“Wow,” I chuckle and raise my glass. “To celebrating the six of us.”

“Who, us six idiots?” Carmen grins.

“Six foxes, you mean?” Riley counters, and we all laugh.

“Six unhinged ones, for sure,” Cat murmurs under her breath, and Celeste nods eagerly.

“Or just us… the Sixers,” Isa says softly, and we all go quiet. “That says it all.”

“The Sixers?” I ask after a beat, and she hums. “I like the sound of that.”

“Yeah, me too,” Celeste lets out, the surprise evident in her voice.

“Well, that’s it then. We are the Sixers.”

“To the Sixers,” Riley says, raising her glass again, and we all follow.

“To the Sixers!”

Chapter 41

Cat

08:02 a.m. – The Sixers - Carmen

Yesterday was epic, and we should totally do it again soon! Like next weekend?

08:04 a.m. – The Sixers - Riley

Oh, we can totally do a pool party. Celeste can grill.