My throat constricts at her words. It’s the most perfect thing she could have said. It’s been so long since I’ve had a friend offer that up. A sympathetic ear and the consideration and space to process things by myself first. I know some of that’s my fault for letting those friendships slip away, but I won’t take it for granted again. I won’t lie, though, it’s hard to think about confiding in anyone. Gabe is an asshole, but I’m still afraid that people will hear the whole story and think I was being silly or blowing things out of proportion. I never want anyone to take Gabe’s side over mine. So it’s easier not to give them a chance to take mine either.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Lane’s over. We’re going to watch a movie. Join us and save me from being the third wheel?”
“I wish I could.” I chuckle softly, loosening the anxiety that’s sat on my chest all day. “I’m going to finish up and then go to sleep early. Another night.”
“Okay.” She stands and goes to the door. “We’re going out for my birthday on Friday. I know you usually use Friday night to catch up on sleep, but I’d love it if you came with us.”
“Where are you going?”
“Club Midnight. Have you heard of it?”
“Yeah, of course.” The new dance club opened a few weeks ago and everyone has been talking about it.
“Is anyone else coming?” I fidget with the edge of my notebook so I don’t have to look Everly in the eye while she replies.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t invite the guys. It’s girls only. Me, Grace, and hopefully you.”
“Not even Lane or Tyler?”
“Especially not them. Grace would be off making out in the corner all night, and Tyler, well I love him, but I’d love to have one night out where people in this town aren’t fawning over him like he’s the greatest thing ever.”
“Okay, yeah. I get that.”
“So, you’ll think about it?”
“I don’t need to think about it. Of course, I’ll come.”
The giant smile on her face makes me glad I said yes. She’s a good friend. Or at least I think she could be if I let her.
Friday night I wake up from a nap to voices in the living room. Last night’s shift at the hospital was awful. The quiet shifts are always the worst and last night there were no surgeries, no new patients, nothing to occupy my time or keep my thoughts off the run-in with Gabe and the texts with Ash. Classes are done for the semester, so I didn’t even have homework to busy myself. Staying awake all night was torture. But tonight, we’re celebrating Everly’s birthday and tomorrow I’m driving home to spend a couple of relaxing weeks with my family for Christmas break.
I get up and throw on a sweatshirt over my tank and shorts, then head out to the kitchen. My eyes are bleary and half-closed when I come up short.
“Hey!” Everly exclaims. “They didn’t wake you up, did they?”
My gaze scans over the five men standing in our small kitchen. Tyler, Leo, Declan, Jack, and Ash all look at me. Five hot hockey players in my house looking at me expectantly. I raise a hand in greeting.
“It’s fine. It was time for me to get up anyway.” I shuffle over to Grace, intending to hide in solidarity with her, another mere mortal in this small space of ridiculously beautiful people, but the joke’s on me. “Wow. You look stunning.”
“Thanks.” She smiles bashfully. She’s in a tiny black dress that shows off her long legs and perky boobs. Her hair is all done in big waves and her makeup somehow makes her eyes three times as big.
And I look like I just rolled out of bed. Because I did.
Now that I get a good look at Everly, she’s already dressed up for tonight too. Her dress is red, and her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail. She has on less makeup than Grace but some eyeliner and red lipstick perfect the look.
I’m second-guessing the club tonight. I’d planned to wear jeans and a cute shirt.
“Sorry about waking you,” Tyler says to me, then wraps an arm around his sister’s shoulders. “This one wouldn’t let me throw her a party tonight, so I had to drop by to give my little sister her birthday present.”
“That explains the giant basket of candy and liquor on the counter,” I say. And wow, it really is giant. So many different kinds of goodies.
Everly pulls out a bottle of champagne and points to the label. Nonalcoholic. I fight a grin as she rolls her eyes.