Page 84 of Surviving Lies

“She used to be,” Macie offered.

And Ava shot her a look.

I decided now might be a good time to let them know I was here, considering they were still oblivious.

“Guys?” I said, timidly.

“Becca?” Lanie said, spinning toward my voice. “You’re here!” Her arms were around me before I could move completely into the kitchen. “I’m so glad to see you in the flesh, Bec. How are you?”

And then I burst into tears. I was so happy she came home early for me.

They were all here.

Ava and Macie stopped what they were doing, the food they were putting away still gripped in their hands as their concerned stares landed on me.

“I’m so glad you guys are back. I thought I was going to be alone all night, and after the couple days I’ve had, well, I just don’t think I could’ve done it.” My words came out between a few broken cries as I struggled to keep it together. The three of them stood there, waiting to see if I would say anything else, but I had nothing. “Wait, what are you two doing back already?” I asked Ava and Macie.

They both looked at each other before Macie answered for them.

“Lanie called and said you needed us, so here we are.”

My tears immediately became more abundant. “Are you guys for real? You all came back early for me?” The snot was coming now, too, as I wiped it all away with the back of my sleeve. All three of them surrounded me in a big group hug.

“I think we could all use a girls’ night,” Lanie added, pulling out of the huddle. “And me and Xander stopped at the store on our way home, thinking this might be needed. See what I brought?” She opened the freezer and fridge to show us what they picked out.

Chocolate ice cream. Vanilla ice cream. Chocolate peanut butter ice cream – my favorite. Chocolate sauce. Whipped cream. All the makings of a night in to rag on guys.

“I could kiss you,” I told Lanie, not exaggerating. I made a beeline for the cabinet, pulling four bowls out. “Everyone having some?” I yelled over my shoulder. When my head turned that way, they were all there, in the kitchen with me, helping get out the spoons and prepare the ice cream.

Lanie was right there, her arm going around me. I dropped my head to her shoulder, thankful as fuck I had her at my side. The tears welled in my eyes again, threatening to spill over, and I rushed to wipe them away. But she caught me.

“Hey, we’re here for you,” she whispered.

I nodded against her. “I know,” I said. “I think that’s why I’m crying.” I stayed where I was, positioned away from the other girls, not wanting to continue to show my vulnerable side.

Becca Reynolds was a hard-ass bitch. But I didn’t feel like such a hard-ass at the moment. I finally turned toward Ava and Macie to find them not even paying attention to me. They were busy getting their dessert bowls readied.

“Which ice cream do you want, Becca?” Ava asked.

I looked around at the three women surrounding me and realized how lucky I was. Lanie came back to my side. “Do you want your chocolate peanut butter? Xander remembered that was your favorite, too.”

And that made me burst into tears yet again.

“Christ, why is it that your boyfriend remembers my favorite ice cream flavor and the guys in my life are doing everything possible to make me miserable? I mean, for fuck’s sake, is it so hard to love me? To be a good guy for me? What the hell did I do to deserve this shit?” I ripped off some paper towels and blew the snot coming from my nose into them. “And yes, thank you, I’ll have chocolate peanut butter!”

I was yelling.

I was abrupt.

I was borderline manic.

But they were good; they all got it.

“How about we head into the living room, get cozy on the couch or the floor? I’ll get some wine to have with our ice cream, and we can either pick a movie or just talk.” Lanie shooed us out of the kitchen as she handed me my overflowing bowl topped with a cherry. Ava and I huddled on the couch while Macie grabbed some blankets to make a pile on the floor for her and Lanie.

“I could use a bitch session myself tonight,” Macie said. “This guy I’ve been hooking up with completely ghosted me a few days ago. What the hell is wrong with these guys? They get what they want, then walk?” She was talking over mouthfuls of vanilla ice cream.

We were all shoveling spoonfuls of the cold deliciousness into our mouths.

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