Page 128 of Scars Like Wings

As I closed my eyes to get the best night’s rest I had had in weeks, the scents of Quinn and home mixed together, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Pressed Flowers

The white-gray clouds outside the Giggle Water were so bright that I had to squint to look out the window at the city below.

A too-bright white fire, the light was strong enough to filter through the canopy of Monstera leaves behind me, painting dappled patterns on the table. My eyes went from watching the swirling ingredients in my drink as I absentmindedly stirred my Bloody Mezcal Maria to the sway of the plants’ shadows on the table to staring at the city below. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t stop thinking about my mom, Pops, Aunt Max, and what sign they would offer me. Had they even heard me? Had it been real or just some spiritual practice meant to bring me comfort and peace? What was I going to do if it was the latter, after all?

“—Earth to Byrd! Hello!” Simone snapped her fingers in front of me. “It’s bad enough that Maisie is late, but I can’t seem to hold your attention for longer than two seconds.”

“I’m so sorry, Sea!” I said, shaking my head. “I just… My mind is elsewhere.”

“I know,” Simone’s teasing tone faded, and her eyes softened. “I’m just worried about you. So much has happened lately, I know it’s been hard.”

“You don’t know the half.” I shook my head, sipping my drink.

“Well, I would know some of it ifyourbest friend would get here already.” Simone checked her phone again for any updates from Maisie in our group chat. I knew without looking that there were none since her last update almost ten minutes ago saying she was on the way.

I laughed. “Mybest friend?”

“You two will be late to your own funerals. I, being a royal, learned to be punctual always.”

“It’s easy to be punctual when you can decree that the party started right on time with your arrival.”

“Okay, that happened attwoparties?—”

“I’m so sorry! I was so caught up that I lost track of time!” Maisie’s hair was windswept, her cheeks flushed with no makeup on, and she was breathless as she approached. Still, she found a way to look like a celebrity staving off the paparazzi in her trendy bodysuit and jean jacket.

“Did you run over here, babe?” I asked, kicking her chair out for her and pushing her water closer to her.

“From the Archive, if you believe it,” she answered, taking a seat and gulping down over half her cup of water.

I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, I’m declaring Brunch Business right now. You havetea, and it’s piping hot.”

“Honestly, you both have tea to spill.” Simone pointed to me and Maisie. “To catch you up, Maze, our little Byrdie has been a space case since she got here,andshe has a new tennis bracelet that she needs to explain.”

“First of all, no one has said space case since, like, the 90s. Second of all, how in the hell did you see that?” I gasped, looking down at my left wrist where I could still see my sweater sleeve hiding my bracelet. “Whendid you see it?”

“Oh, I can smell relationship drama for miles. I’m a Cancer Sun and Aquarius Moon, remember?” Simone smiled. “Since y’all clearly have some juiciness to dish, I’m going to go first. I literally have nothing exciting. Cole asked to come on our Friendsgiving Trip, and he asked if he could bring the other cousins. It seems a littleByrdietold a certainstudabout it who told Cole.”

“You make it sound like you are mad about it.” I snorted.

“You know I’m not. I just didn’t want to be that girl who invites her boyfriend on all her trips with her girls, you know? So, I wanted to check with you all to make sure it was okay first.”

“Oh, precious baby,” Maisie said. “Of course it’s okay. It’s not like you live together and you invite your man oneverytrip. Besides, it isn’t just your man, it’s my boytoy and Byrd’s study buddy, too.”

“I can’t stand you.” I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “But seriously, Sea. We know you would never choose a man over us. But the cousins definitely add to the fun.”

“Good! We are in for another bae-cation!” Simone clapped her hands. “Okay! Now that that’s settled. Which one of you heifers is next because I’m dying to know what is going on!”

“I volunteer Bee as tribute,” Maisie said, sipping from her espresso martini she told us to order earlier.

“Just twist my arm about it, why don’t you? Well, we can just start with the rose gold elephant in the room,” I said, pulling my sweater’s sleeve up to show them both the bracelet Quinn had given me. Simone oohed and ahhed while Maisie’s jaw dropped.

“Uh, I have sucked Cody’s dick more times than I can count, and I have yet to get a bouquet of flowers. You haven’t even had sex with this butch and you get atennis bracelet. That is at least a couple grand around your wrist, ma’am.”

“Well, it’s calledgirlfriendprivilege, Maisie.”

Simone screamed. “OMG OMG OMG! Did she ask you?”

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