Trix kisses her teeth as she returns with three wineglasses and half a roll of paper towels. “Nor...”
“What?”
“We agreed on gradually breaching that subject. That’s not gradual.”
“The sign wasn’t exactly subtle.”
I wave a hand. “It’s okay, guys,” I say as Trix hands me a glass. “Truthfully, I’ve been on the fence about it for a while now. My agent suggested it months ago, said there were plenty of local career opportunities in the city, but...” I shrug. “I don’t know. I didn’t really think too seriously about it until recently.”
“When you became a fifth wheel?” Trix asks.
“I didn’t mean it like...” I deflate. “Yeah, sort of. I guess.”
Nora’s face bleeds guilt. “We didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” she says.
“I am so happy for you guys,” I say. “Nothing makes me happier than you guys finding your happily ever afters, so please don’t think otherwise.”
“We don’t,” Trix says.
“After a while, though…” I swallow hard. “After losing what was supposed to be my happily ever after, it became easier to imagine me walking away.”
“Because of Robbie?”
My heart clenches. “Yes,” I answer. “Because of Robbie. And me, too. I need a change. A good change. Leaving Chicago just started making sense the more I thought about it. I can’t stand still anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s holiday with my dumb drama.”
Trix nods, pensive. “Why did you tell Robbie?” she asks, curious.
“Yes, please,” Nora says, her eyes flashing for gossip. “I would very much like to know that as well.”
I chuckle. “He found out by accident,” I say. “He was at my place when my dad swung by to drop off some boxes for me. Mom can keep a secret. Dad not so much. Anyway, Rob confronted me about it and, well…” I gesture around. “Here we are.”
“And why was Robbie at your place?” Trix asks, her lips curling.
“Because he was helping me with my book.”
“Oh, yeah…” Nora says. “I forgot he used to do edits for you.”
“So did I. But then, he left some notes for me the night he crashed on my couch. I read them over, liked his ideas, so we’ve been professionally working together ever since.”
Nora swoons. “That’s so nice.” She looks at Trix. “Isn’t that nice?”
“Very nice,” Trix says.
I pick at a loose thread on my sleeve. “He doesn’t want me to go,” I say.
“Of course he doesn’t!” Nora says. “He loves you.”
“I know.” I nod. “And part of me will always love him, too, but I can’t pretend that love is all that matters. It doesn’t work that way.”
“As the creator of a dating app, I totally get that.”
Trix nods. “And as a woman whose boyfriend helped put her father in jail, it resonates with me, too,” she says.
We chuckle.
“Exactly,” I say.
“Well, for what it’s worth...” Nora raises her glass, “I think you’ll kick so much ass in New York.”
“Damn straight,” Trix says, smiling. “And I’d never scoff at a good excuse for a day trip.”
“Hell yeah! We’ll gas up the helicopter and meet you in Times Square. Hit up SoHo. Take in a show. Just say when and we’ll be there.”
I smile. “Thanks, guys.”
They both wrap their arms around me in a three-way hug. Tears spring to my eyes as I laugh. These girls have been through so much shit with me. My first book launch. My wedding. My divorce. All the vicious moments in-between. And yet, they’re still here.
I bury myself in their embrace, never wanting to leave.
“Wait.” Nora leans back. “What about your secret admirer? Have you told him you’re leaving?”
“Oh. About that.” I dab the lone tear off my eyelash. “I found out who he is.”
“What?” Trix asks. “You did?”
Nora jolts on the couch. “When? How?”
I press my lips together, enjoying the suspense. “It was… Roger.”
Nora gasps. “No.”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Roger?”
Trix furrows her tight brow. “Roger?” she asks.
“Roger,” I repeat. “The waiter from Moira’s.”
“Roger told you he was the secret admirer? He said that?”
“I sent him a message, asked to finally meet, and he showed up,” I answer. “It sounds crazy, but it’s true.”
Nora shakes her head. “Well, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would he—”
The front door opens. Haley barges inside and pauses as she sees us, her hand instantly rising to wipe an obvious tear off her face.
“Haley?” Trix rises off the couch. “Honey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she mutters as she bolts for the stairs.
The three of us exchange glances, easily recognizing Haley’s pained expression.
The fallout of a date gone wrong.
But how wrong?
Nora and I stand and follow Trix up the stairs.
“Haley?” Trix taps on the last door in the hall. “Can we come in?”
We pause behind her, patiently waiting until there’s a soft shuffling on the other side.
Haley opens the door. “Hey,” she says.
“Are you okay?” Trix asks again, her voice as fluffy as clouds.
Haley nods and steps out into Trix’s comforting arms.
In all the years I’ve known Trix, I’ve never seen her this soft and maternal. Her own mother died giving birth to her. Her grandmother raised her, but I don’t think they ever had what you’d call a mother-daughter connection. Haley’s mother died in the same way Trix’s did, leaving Lance to raise her by himself. Somehow, they found each other and, with that, their own mother-daughter connection.
I smile, my eyes stinging with tears.
Trix releases her. Haley steps back, leaving her door open for us as she sits down on her mattress. Trix kneels on the floor and folds her legs beneath her, sinking into a comfortable position next to the bed. I wonder how often they do this together; whispering about boys far away from Lance’s protective ears.
Nora plunks down on the floor, too. I instantly follow.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Trix asks.
Haley looks at each of us, her smile returning. “You guys don’t have to do this.”
“Of course we do!” Nora says.
“Yeah,” I say. “You’re one of us.”
“Talking shit about the losers we date is half the fun of girly nights.”
Trix smiles. “That’s
