Page 64 of Someday Not Soon

We hear Madi groan, in clear disgust of hearing the mention of sex when it refers to her sibling.

Turning to look at me, he threads his hand through my hair and softly kisses me on my temple. “I better go let them in before my neighbors get to hear the wordsexshouted many more times.”

Adjusting my clothes back into place, he pulls me flush against his body, embracing me before I leave. “We’re not done here though, love. As soon as I get off work I’m running home to you.”

“I can’t wait.” I rise on my tiptoes to kiss him one last time before we both head out for the day. The wordsI love youalmost slip out, but I catch myself, reining in that rope of affection before I get tangled up in it. There are a million other things we need to figure out before love can be spoken aloud.

Running barefoot to the front door, I swing it wide open, right as Delaney has her hands to her mouth to shout more expletives.

Grabbing her by the wrist, I tug her inside the house. “I don’t even want to know what you were about to shout next.”

“I was about to say to stop canoodling his noodle, and…”

“Delaney,pleasestop. I beg of you,” Madi pleads. “I’m all good with them dating, but I’ve got to havesomeboundaries. And that boundary is most definitely when it involves any mention of their sex life.”

In surrender, Delaney holds up both hands. “Okay, fine. I get it. I’ll stop.”

Satisfied with her reply, Madi turns to set down her purse on the entryway table. From behind her hand, Delaney mouths to me, “Tell me the details later, okay?”

Driving a half hour to the city, the buildings grow denser and taller, and the air more polluted. Madi and I laugh hysterically as Delaney attempts multiple times to parallel park, shouting at us not to look at her during her time of need. Our laughter turns to tears however, as we dive between seat cushions, desperately searching for quarters to feed the parking meter.

The day is exactly what I need. A glimpse into what life could be—squeezing in fun trips to the city with my best friends, and reminiscing about how our junior year crush is now bald with three ex-wives.

The Pilates studio is open and large, with rows and rows of reformers, and accompanying wine flights on wooden trays. The walls are adorned with motivational neon signs and sleek mirrors, creating a modern atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

A perky instructor demonstrates the exercises, as the three of us shake our way through the grueling workout. Delaney curses under her breath, while Madi pushes through with the laser focus of a guided missile. Meanwhile, being in this space only confirms what I already knew. This is absolutely what I want to do.

I want to lead classes again, just like I did ten years ago. Helping people feel good about themselves, guiding them to find strength in their own bodies, and seeing thatspark of accomplishment in their eyes. It’s what I’ve always loved.

That feeling gnaws at me for the rest of the day, trying to claw its way from the back of my mind into reality. Business names, class schedules, and potential locations pop up as we drive home. My brain is forming a plan before I can even stop myself. It’s like once the seed of this idea was planted during my time back in Lawson, it took root deep in my thoughts. Now, all I want to do is nurture it, let it grow until it blooms into something real.

Madi’s voice breaks through my thoughts as we turn off on the exit back to Lawson. “Ella, how do you feel about going back to Washington soon?”

“It’ll feel nice to be home,” I reply, lying straight through my teeth. It’s where my whole life is now. Even if it is only a decently boring job, a small apartment, and a probably now-dead houseplant.

“I sense abut,” Delaney replies from the driver’s seat. “Please let there be abut.”

I glance at her and smile, as she looks back out of her peripheral vision, head turned toward the road. She knows me too well.

“You’re right,” I reply. “It will be nice to be home,butI’d be lying if I didn’t say that there’s a big part of me that doesn’t want to leave.”

Madi leans forward, peeking around my seat. “I’m not sure if I’m supposed to encourage you to go back home like you originally planned, or beg you to stay here with Delaney and I.” She puts her chin on her palm, elbow resting on the center console. “Is it because you love us somuch? Or does this have something to do with my idiot brother?”

I snort. “Both. Then Sherie had mentioned opening my own Pilates studio the other day, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Delaney shrieks with excitement. “That’d be the perfect job for you. Please tell me you’re going through with it.”

“I don’t have the guts or money to pull something like that off,” I shrug.

Madi taps the center console with her fingernails, already devising up a plan for me. “Aren’t you about to get a nice chunk of money once your parents’ house is sold? And who needs guts when you have two very strong-willed best friends who will drag you across the finish line? We would gladly kick your ass into succeeding if that’s what you wanted.”

“When you put it like that, it does seem a little more possible,” I laugh.

Madi’s voice goes soft. “We can’t force you to do anything. It’syourlife, El. But just promise us one thing. Promise you’ll at least think more about it. None of that talking yourself out of it right away. Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong, think about the hundreds of other things that could go right instead.”

From the driver’s seat, Delaney chimes in. “It’s been nice having you back and doing things like this. We understand if you need to go have yourEat, Pray, Lovejourney up in Washington. But just know we’ll miss youlike crazy. I also know a ridiculously tall doctor that is going to miss you a hell of a lot too.”

Madi adds, “Seriously. My mom couldn’t stop talking about how my brother is the happiest she’s ever seen him. He used to only be dead-tired from working all the time, and now it’s like he can’t ever stop smiling.”

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