Page 73 of First Comes Forever

“They think it’ll help with my migraines,” I lie.

Reese’s brown eyes stay fixed on me. She quirks one eyebrow up as she slightly shakes her head. “That doesn’t sound right.” But she’s distracted when Noa steps around the countertop and rests her forehead against Reese’s bare shoulder. “Oh, hon, come here,” she says, wrapping her arms around Noa and stroking her thick, wavy, dark mane. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to find you a new movie star to fall in love with, okay? Maybe one who’s been celibate his whole life until you.”

Noa chuckles. “That’d be nice.”

Addie looks at me and Quinn, then Reese and Noa. “I’m feeling a little hug-less.”

“Come here,” Quinn says, opening her other arm, inviting Addie over.

“Actually, you know what? It’s not Friday, but I think we are in desperate need of sangria, samosas, and our favorite reruns, yeah? Maybe we can all sleep over tonight, just like old times?” When Noa nods, Addie hustles to her phone. “I’ll call in food. Noa, what does Jonah like from the Indian place?”

“He’s five. Absolutely nothing,” Noa muffles into Reese’s shoulder, still buried in her hug.

“Okay, I’ll have the samosas delivered, but who volunteers to pick up a pizza for Jonah and make a liquor run?” She gestures toward Noa with her head. “Lots of liquor.”

“Me. I’ll go,” I say before anyone else can offer. I kiss Quinn’s cheek then break free of her arms. After mopping up my tears, I pat under my eyes, trying to calm the puffiness. “I’ll take Noa’s car and be back in a bit.”

“Want company?” Quinn asks.

I shake my head. “You guys get cozy. I could use the fresh air.”

Grabbing Noa’s minivan keys out of the key bowl, I hustle out the door and slide into the driver’s seat. I impatiently wait for my phone to connect to Bluetooth, then dial as I pull out of Noa’s long driveway, courtesy of the Denver suburbs. I exhale in relief when Adam answers.

“Hey, how’s Noa?” he asks right away.

“Not great. How’s Chase?”

Adam sighs loudly into the phone. “Really not great.”

“Joy,” I mutter. “Just when everything is going according to plan.”

“That’s how it always goes. Tragedy happens at the peak of promise.”

Flicking on my blinker, I pull out of Noa’s community and make my way down the familiar main road toward our favorite Indian restaurant. “I was really rooting for them.”

“Amani, come on. It’s not over.”

“No, it’s over, Adam. You should’ve heard the speech Noa just gave. It breaks my heart, but she truly believes they’re better apart.”

I slow as I approach the red light. Taking the opportunity, I adjust the driver’s seat so I’m a little closer. These days, I am not wearing heels and I need to scoot about an inch forward in order to comfortably reach the pedal.

“Nah, I don’t buy it,” Adam says. “You want to know the advice my dad gave me when my mom left? True love is like a boomerang. Let it go, and if it’s real, it’ll come right back and smack you in the face.”

I laugh. “Why would it smack you in the face? Why not catch it?”

“Yeah… It was one of my dad’s analogies. He wasn’t athletically inclined growing up. But the point being, you have your crystals, and I have my gut feeling. And my gut is telling me Chase and Noa are a boomerang.”

The traffic light turns green and I slam down on the pedal. The minivan groans, unable to lunge forward with the gusto I intended. I forgot most cars can’t accelerate like Adam’s Porsche.

“What are we, Adam? Are we a boomerang too?”

He chuckles, his laugh surrounding me through the van’s speakers like he’s right here next to me. “We’ll never know.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because I have no plans of letting you go.”

nineteen

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