Page 115 of The Fix

“Holy smokes, get it together, Anna.”

I don’t even get a chance to speak when I slide over the answer button, Aria’s voice filling my little speaker as soon as the line connects.

“You have to come! Oh, my god, it’ll be so much fun if you come, too.”

“Hello Aria. It’s nice to talk to you, too.”

The woman in my ear snorts, another voice rising in the background. “Cut the shit and tell us yes, lady.”

“Hello to you, too, Cedar.”

“It’s been too long,” Aria drones out, the words on the verge of a whine that makes my heart fill. “We’re in town and totally would rather crash with you. Send me your address and we’ll make it a girls’ night.”

I blink and take a look around my small apartment. “Is that a thing? An actual slumber party?”

“Yes, it’s totally a thing. As long as you’re cool with it.”

“Yes, okay.”

The squeals on the other end of the line make me jerk the phone away from my head, but I smile nonetheless.

“C will bring the booze and the makeup. I’ll bring the ice cream and the clothes!”

“O-okay.” My heart swells inside my chest. “Okay. I’ll text you my address.”

When Aria finally disconnects the call sometime later, I sit in my office and just stare.

I’m not sure when the homesickness settled in, but now that these women are voluntarily coming to spend their time with me, I feel its effects waning.

Eventually, it won't feel like this.

Right?

Chapter Sixty-One

Anna

Not only did Aria and Cedar show up with an entire wardrobe of clothes for me to try on, but they also came toting a fancy charcuterie board and enough ice cream to feed an army.

I pull my office door closed and shut the women in with the white noise of a comedy movie on the small TV.

So glad I kept a guest bed in there.

There’s a lightness to my steps, and I’m fairly certain I’m going to need anti-wrinkle cream in the morning from all the emotions displaying on my face.

I wouldn’t take back a single second.

In fact, I’m not sure how I’m going to keep on once they leave come tomorrow, but that sounds like a problem for the Anna of tomorrow to think about.

I head to the small kitchen and fill a glass of water from the filtered tap that I down to prevent the hangover I know is going to come if I don’t. I didn’t drink much, but the wine Cedar picked was perfect with the little cubes of cheese.

Leaning into the fridge, I pull out the leftovers and pop a few of those same cubes into my mouth.

There’s just something about eating cheese at night in the dark.

With a little jiggle, I bump my butt back against the barely lit counter, the Tupperware perched beneath my chin, and glance out at the mess of clothes and makeup containers left strewn about.

My eyes twitch with the need to tidy up, but the memories outweigh the need to fix it.

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