Page 107 of Now Their Starlet

My thumb hovers over the screen for a long moment before I type back

Andi

holy shit

are you okay??

Ezra

getting there. Therapist said it’s the first healthy thing I’ve done

feels like shit rn tho

nothing as crazy as what you’ve been through, just getting a restraining order

My eyes widen and I slump back against the patio chair.

Andi

will you be okay??

Ezra

lawyer said the trust is already in my name so I shouldn’t have issues

no need to worry bout me, you’ve got enough on your plate

Andi

fine, no worrying, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care

we’ve both got batshit insane parents, I think out of anyone I’d get it

Ezra

yeah

anyway, didn’t want you to get blindsided by the news later, figured you’ve had enough of that this year

Something warm and unexpected tightens in my chest, right alongside the lump already sitting in my throat

Andi

thank you. Seriously.

Ezra

yeah well that’s what friends do or whatever, I’ve gotta go, good luck with your pack

Andi

good luck too

He sends me a peace emoji. It’s something that’s so Ezra it has a bark of laughter tearing from my chest. I slump backwards against the patio chair and stare out at the view. If I had some way to time travel back a year to try and warn past me about the kinds of things I’d have to deal with over the next year, I would’ve never believed current-me.

My phone buzzes yet again. I’m half expecting it to be Ezra again, but it’s not. Turns out I’m popular, this morning.

The group chat, titled Girls only, sorry Ever—a name Cleo insisted on the day she first got my new number from Everett—has new notifications