“True.” I open the door, hoping Alyssa and Evie didn’t go far. “Sorry. Thanks for the dinner.” I rush past Alyssa and Evie, saying, “See you Monday.”
I round the corner into the living room and press my back against the wall, breathing heavily. I can still hear Tyler’s low rumble of laughter as I slide down the wall to sit on thehardwood floor. Winston trots over to me, licking my face until I pet him.
After a few minutes, the door creaks shut and Alyssa joins me on the floor.
“Shay! Mal! Get your gorgeous booties down here.” My other friends come downstairs in their pajamas and plop onto the couch. “Now that we’re all here, do you want to tell us what all that was about?”
“It’s nothing.”
Alyssa shakes her head. “You got home at the same time as Tyler when you were supposed to be on a blind date. He mentioned something about a lady friend. And then you thanked him for dinner. You can’t tell me that’s nothing. I could feel the tension sizzling between y’all.”
I take a second, scanning the room, waiting for someone to back me up. When nobody does, I sigh and mutter, “Tyler was my blind date.”
They collectively gasp.
Winston runs around excitedly like we’re playing a game with him. The only game I want to be playing is how long I can close my eyes in bed and pretend this night never happened.
“Can we talk about this in the morning?” I rub my temples. “I need to shower and sleep off the mortification.”
“Fine,” Alyssa concedes. “But tomorrow morning, you have to tell us every detail.”
“I’ll pick up our usual biscuit orders so we can stay in our pajamas,” Shayna offers.
“You’re an angel on earth.” I hug her. On Sundays, those of us who are available eat brunch together at a biscuit-themed restaurant in town. It’ll be nice to do something normal tomorrow because everything about tonight was far from it. “And maybe some bonuts?”
“It must be bad if you want the biscuit donuts.” Mallory lets out a low whistle.
We usually reserve ordering bonuts for breakups, breakdowns, or to celebrate Mallory’s breaks from school. But if I’m going to have to relive every shocking and confusing feeling from tonight again, I’m going to need all the sweet encouragement I can get.
Afteraquicklookin the mirror, I head downstairs in my matching sweats set, ready for a morning with my favorite girls. Once Winston has finished his business outside, I make my way to the kitchen.
I get to work making our favorite fall-flavored drink with my cheap espresso maker. Step aside, pumpkin spice, maple lattes reign supreme in this house.
I pour the steamed milk into the mugs of espresso, not even attempting to make a maple leaf design with the foam. Trying to create designs on drinks without a stencil was my least favorite part of my barista gig.
“It smells like heaven in here.” Alyssa gives me a side hug, already looking perfect in a burnt orange silk blouse and fall floral silk scarves tied into her space buns, and then reaches down to rub Winston’s head.
“No talking before coffee.” Mallory shuffles in behind her. I place a mug in her extended hand. Even though she’s usually teaching before the rest of us are awake, she’s a gremlin in themornings without her caffeine. She sits at her usual spot at the kitchen table and takes a sip.
“Better?” Alyssa laughs as I hand her a latte.
“Much.” Mallory closes her eyes and sighs contentedly.
I hear the front door open and shut, and then Shayna walks into the kitchen wearing a cute white floral set. Her dark-brown hair is pulled up in a messy ponytail, and her signature knotted pearl headband sits perfectly in place. She sets two brown to-go bags on the kitchen table.
“Mmm.” She inhales deeply, and her eyes light up. “Maple lattes?” I nod. “I love you,” she coos.
Shayna grabs the yellow mug, and I take the remaining one to the table for myself.
Winston lays dutifully at my feet under the table as Alyssa pulls the food out of the bags and passes out everyone’s orders. “Thanks for grabbing breakfast, Shay.”
Mallory and I hum our thanks while digging in. I’d like to personally thank whoever thought to put hot honey, fried chicken, and pickles together on a biscuit for their ingenious creation. The biscuit makes it a breakfast food, okay?
“I can’t wait any longer. I’m dying to hear about your blind date withTyler,” Shayna says in a sing-song voice.
I take a sip of my latte, savoring the sweet maple notes. I carefully place the mug back on the white-painted table and then jump into storytelling mode.
Once I’ve finished regaling them with the events of last night, my friends sit in stunned silence, the last bits of their lattes and sandwiches long forgotten. I grab a bonut and dip it in the berry compote before devouring it in a single bite.
