Page 108 of Tricky Girls

Nic

I knuckle Elly’s door quietly, careful not to disturb the room opposite. It opens, Elly already wearing a smile and holding aloft some wrapped gifts.

We tiptoe to Haz’s room. We don’t knock there. Haz is sprawled over the bed, one arm thrown above her head, sleeping the sleep of the not-so-innocent.

I stand at the foot of the bed, arms crossed.

This thing, this little ritual not really meant for us, began four years ago. For the six years before that, I hadn’t celebrated a birthday once. Haz, practically never.

Discovering that, we made it a thing to make them a thing.

I hold back an eyeroll every time Haz throws me a gift, takes me to some swanky restaurant or does all that shit with theballoons. Because I know it’s important. We had to become the family we never had.

Elly reaches over, running the backs of her fingers over Haz’s cheek. ‘Wakey, wakey, wifey-poos.’

Haz stirs. ‘Mmm, Tilda baby, that you?’

Elly flicks her gaze to me for my reaction.

I give her none.

‘No, yourfirstwives.’

Haz cracks her eyes open. ‘Ah. You motherfuckers.’

‘Us motherfuckers with your presents, so sit up.’ Elly sits on the bed, depositing her gifts on Haz’s blanketed legs.

Haz gives her scalp a good scratch as she runs her eyes over the offerings. ‘Where’s Tilda?’

‘Asleep,’ I grunt.

‘Shame.’ She pulls a present towards her. ‘Did you get me that vibrator, Ells?’

‘What, the Tinglelus 2000? Yeah, pal, it’s there.’

Haz sniggers. There’re no sex toys, but a decent array of craft beer, some household items made up in that dark wood she likes and a new watch from yours truly.

‘Damn, my girls treat me right,’ she sighs, flinging away the wrapping paper.

I nod once. ‘And don’t you forget it.’

She holds out her arms. ‘Group hug?’

It’s the first of many eyeroll moments today. Her body moves against mine as she yawns. She smells of the cologne I gifted her the year before last. It’s all so familiar. It all helps seal the black holes of our pasts.

‘Grab my phone, will you. I heard it vibrate.’

I toss it to her from the nightstand.

‘Tilda,’ she says, lips ticking up.

I don’t suppress my eyeroll then.

‘She says I have to be ready for something by five. You guys know what?’

‘Yep,’ Elly says, with a smile that says Haz won’t be finding out anytime soon.

‘Hm.’ She casts her phone away. ‘Curious. She also says not to get up. Think I’m getting breakfast in bed, lads.’ She reaches up to stretch, the muscles in her arms flexing.‘Fuuuuuuck,life is sweet.’

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