Page 92 of Scars Like Wings

“Icannotbelieve it’s almost your birthday, Bee!” Simone squealed.

“I know! Gods, it’s in a couple of weeks, which isinsane. I don’t even have a clue what we are going to do,” I said, batting my eyelashes.

“Ha-ha. Nice try there, Birthday Queen. You know our lips are sealed, just like they are every year when we plan something for you. Honestly, it’s crazy that you beg to be surprised and have zero patience to wait for it.” Maisie shook her head.

“I got to keep you on your toes.” I winked, making Maisie playfully roll her eyes.

We were sitting inside our favorite spot for our usual standing Sunday Brunch Date. The girls and I had been coming to the Giggle Water since before we could legally drink. It was a woman-owned and operated speakeasy-style restaurant and bar on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Blackbell. It was hidden away in the Business District behind a secret door in the wall that you could easily miss. Inside, the decor could only be described ifGreat Gatsbywas gay as hell, a very successful businessman, and did drag every weekend. It was the perfect place for us, tucked away from the more touristy brunchplaces in Little Salem and the Shopping District that were always packed and had month-long waitlists. Giggle Water was still busy, but you never had to wait longer than fifteen minutes for a table. It helped that Maisie had a situationship with the General Manager, so we always got our favorite table at the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

“Did you ask off already?” Simone asked, sipping her mimosa.

“Of course! I requested Thursday off to pack and Monday and Tuesday to have a little recovery day or two after… whatever y’all have up your sleeves.”

“Oh, don’t pout,” Maisie teased. “You are going to have a blast this year. We havelayersto this birthday surprise extravaganza to the gods.”

“And I can’t get a hint into any of them? Not even a tiny little one?”

Maisie shook her head, rolling her eyes and smiling again. “No, ma’am. You know better than that.”

Our server soon arrived and dropped off our drinks. We had been coming to Giggle Water every Sunday for so long that it was practically a training requirement to know our drink and food orders by heart and when we liked to receive everything. We each tipped at least thirty percent for the effort and their quality service.

Maisie sipped from her Bloody Maria, Simone from her mimosa, and I from my espresso martini. After we sat our drinks down, Simone put her hands together and declared. “Okay, Brunch Business! Let’s get started!”

With school, work, and life, most of the time my girls and I rarely saw each other throughout the week. The past couple of weeks have been a significant exception, but I still hadn’t seen or spoken to the girls much since Monday when we went to investigate the grimoire. Sure, we texted, sending each othervideos and memes we had found across the several social media platforms we were a part of, and, of course, we had to have our weekly virtual Watch Party of the latest episode ofVanderpump Rules. But all of that had been light, dancing around the heavy shit to avoid bringing down the mood.

“Oh! Oh! Can I go first today? I don’t have much to dish about, really.” Simone bounced in her seat.

“Go for it,” I said.

“Be our guest,” Maisie said.

“Okay, so I’m officially on track to graduate this spring with my masters! I got the final sign-off from my professor on Friday!”

“Oh, my gods! Congratulations, Simone! That’s fantastic news!” I exclaimed, reaching over to give her a hug.

“We havegotto do something hella fun to celebrate that! We will have to pull out all the stops.” Maisie made a finger gun toward Simone. “I’m thinking Europe.”

“Oooh, maybe France? Sea has always wanted to visit Italy!”

“Stop it, you two! I haven’t graduated yet. Gods, I cannot eventhinkabout celebrating until November at the earliest,maybe. I’m still in the absolute trenches right now.” She took a sip of mimosa before she continued. “I also got a raise at work—don’t celebrate it, though. It’s only like a dollar, which is nothing compared to all the work I do for the magazine. Soooo, I’m really considering Dr. Rhois’s offer to move into document preservation. It really excites me, a lot more than being a freaking Marketing Assistant at a pretentious film magazine.” Simone rolled her eyes.

“I definitely think you should take the archiving role! It feels perfect for you. Plus, Rhois can help ensure you are as overpaid as I am. She’s the queen of securing a benefit.”

Simone and I chuckled. Maisie finished off her drink before she said. “I can go next, if that’s cool with you, Bee?”

“It’s all you, babe. How was your week after Monday? Did it get better?” I asked.

Our server appeared to take her empty glass and to let us know our next round was being made before our food comes out. Maisie got her attention before she left. “Can I get my Blood Maria with an extra shot of tequila, please? Thank you!”

When the server nodded and left, I raised my eyebrows. “Damn, that bad?”

“It’s not bad, per se.” Maisie shrugged. Our server returned with our next round of drinks, and Maisie continued. “I haven’t spoken to my mom since Monday. She texted me that she loved me or whatever, but I just can’t talk to her right now. Not after what happened with my father. I just…I just need… I don’t know exactly?—”

“You need time,” Simone said. “You got a lot thrown on you at once. You need time to process and understand everything. I’m sure your mom gets that.”

“I know she does, but it’s hard, you know? We used to talk every other day, and now I’m giving her practical radio silence. I know it’s killing her, but I just can’t deal with that right now. It’s hard enough dealing withwhatI am.”

I reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. “She isn’t going anywhere, Maze. She understands, and she’ll be there when you are ready to talk everything out. Focus on what you can handle right now. Hell, that’s what I’ve had to do this week.”

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