Page 14 of The Note

“Okay, Mrs. Nelson,” Kelsey said, the esses slurring slightly in the wordMissus. “You’re really thinking about changing your last name?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s actually kind of dumb my mom and I are still Hanovers, but it’s my name, right?” That night in Bloomington, after May’s mother had told her and Kelsey so matter-of-factly that May’s father never wanted May to be born, she asked her mother why she had given May her father’s last name and had taken it as well. She replied without hesitation.I didn’t want my child to be seen as foreign, and I thought I deserved as much too.

“Luke wanted me to change my name,” Kelsey said, “and I wouldn’t even consider it. Maybe that was the beginning of the end.”

May looked to Lauren to see if she seemed concerned about the most recent downswing in Kelsey’s mood, but she was typing a message on her phone, her seat belt already secured. May spotted the name at the top of the screen.Thomas. So there was still something between her and Thomas Welliver.

They were halfway home when an Ed Sheeran song came on, and Kelsey turned up the radio without asking the driver. She waved her hands near her head and began to bounce in her seat.Ooh, I love it when you do it like that…

May could picture her Uber rating falling with every passing moment, but when she caught sight of the driver’s face in the rearview mirror, he was smiling.

*

At the house, Jackson the driver hopped out quickly after pulling into the driveway, rushing to get Kelsey’s door. May noticed that he’d cut the engine. May couldn’t find the buckle to unlatch her seat belt. By the time she managed to get out of the car, Jackson already had his arm around Kelsey’s waist and was leading her to the house.

“Door-to-door delivery,” Kelsey said. “Five stars for this man!”

“We’ve got her from here,” May said, catching up to them as Kelsey fumbled to get the house key into the lock.

“Why don’t you come inside,” Kelsey said. “It’s too nice out to be driving drunk people around all night. We’re really fun.” Just as Kelsey had predicted, any thoughts about becoming a single mom appeared to have floated away for the moment.

“Yeah, a real party,” Lauren said sternly, “which no one else will be joining tonight. But, yes, thank you very much for the ride and the assistance. Above and beyond the call of duty.”

Jackson hurried back to his Camry and disappeared into the night.

“Party poopers,” Kelsey said once the door wasclosed behind them. May reached for Kelsey’s arm to steady her, but Kelsey’s balance was suddenly solid. Sobered up, just like that. Her superpower was still intact.

“I think we should all slam some water and aspirin before we hit the hay,” May said.

“The only thing I’m hitting is the deck!” Kelsey said. “One day of our trip down and we haven’t even taken advantage of being right on the water. I brought stuff for s’mores and there’s one of those fancy smokeless-fire stoves on the back deck.” Kelsey had already pulled three wineglasses from a cabinet and was positioning a wine opener over a bottle of red. “Come on, May, you know you’re going to have FOMO tomorrow if you go upstairs already, and you hate FOMO.”

Lauren had kicked off her wedge sandals and was fiddling with a Bluetooth speaker on the kitchen island. Obviously May’s only choices were to stay awake or to leave the two of them to continue the night without her.FOMOwasn’t a word yet when they first knew each other, but even back then, everyone knew that May was the one who hated to be left out, and she had joked many times in the Crew thread about nights when she agreed to do things she didn’t even want to do just in case she missed out on something great.

“Success,” Lauren declared, as the speaker began to play Prince’s cover of a Joni Mitchell song. May had been the one to introduce Lauren to it,knowing that she loved Prince. May could still remember how pleased she felt with herself, impressing Lauren of all people with a piece of music.

“Come on, May,” Kelsey pleaded. “We’ve only got you for the weekend. You can recuperate when you’re back home with boring Josh.” She immediately covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh my god, did I just say that out loud?”

“You think Josh is boring? You haven’t even met him.”

Kelsey looked to Lauren, and May did the same. Her lips were pressed together, eyes wide.

“You told her Josh is boring?”

Lauren winced and held up her thumb and index finger an inch apart, and then Kelsey burst out laughing.

Josh. Sweet, patient Josh. Josh, who had sent her multiple texts asking how things were going.

Hope you guys are having fun!

How’s the house?

How was dinner?

Gomez says hi, Momma.The accompanying photo was super cute.

Okay, you guys must be having a blast. Should I be jealous?

Sorry to text bomb you all day. Heading to bed now. Love you!

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