“To be fair, I didn’t run from the cops. I simply drove away like I wasn’t there for a street race. It’s not as if any cop who pulled me over would even think I was part of that scene. I’m a college student, out late, grabbing more coffee to study for a test.”
Kelsey looks her up and down. “You might look like that right now, but not when you’re dressed in black leather from head to toe.”
“Can we move this inside? I’m starving,” Harlow says, patting her belly. “I’m practicing eating for two, because Jimmy and I decided we want to try to get pregnant.”
“Oh my God!” Monroe squeals.
“Holy shit.” Kelsey gasps. “That’s like . . . serious shit.”
Warmth floods my system, and my cheeks hurt from how wide my smile stretches as I stare at Harlow in wonder. “That is officially the best news of the entire day. I am so excited for you both.”
She gives us a tiny shrug. “I’m excited, but also terrified. Can you imagine me as a mother? I have absolutely no idea what to do with a baby, but I can’t seem to shake this feeling that I need to do it.”
“You’ll be an amazing mom, Har-har. I know it,” Monroe says with a look of absolute bliss. “And I’m going to spoil the shit out of this baby and be the best auntie ever.”
“Thank you, guys. I’ll tell the hostess we’re all here,” Harlow says.
As soon as we’re seated at the table, placed our orders, and have talked about all things baby with Harlow, Kelsey glances in my direction.
“I heard Curated was bananas yesterday after Meryl Fosse posted a pic of something she bought for her daughter. I literally danced in my kitchen when I saw it. I know you’ve been trying to get her as a client forever, Scar. That’s so huge.”
I wipe my mouth and take a long sip of water before replying. “She came by after the gala, and we really hit it off. I had no idea the reason she was so resistant to Curated was because she and my mom had tension before my parents were married.”
Monroe smiles and waves to our server, her bloody mary almost gone. “No shit?”
“Yeah, I guess my mom thought my dad was into her or something. And it’s quite possible he was.”
“Talk about red-flag warning for your mom about your dad,” Harlow whispers with her eyebrows rising. “But, obviously, I’m glad they still got together, because we got you out of the deal.”
My smile comes and goes. “Definitely, but it was hard to hear from someone who wasn’t a big fan of my mom. I feel like I’ve been putting her up on a pedestal since she passed, making her seem like a saint, when she was only human like the rest of us.”
“Oh, honey.” Kelsey reaches across the table to cover my hand with hers. “Of course you have been. That’s what we do with good people we lose too soon. Your mom was an awesome woman who changed all of our lives through her work. She was an icon. Whatever flaws she might have had are irrelevant at this point. You’re honoring her legacy, and that’s exactly what you need to keep doing.”
“Agreed,” Harlow says with a sympathetic pout. “Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore if you and Meryl are straight. You should remember your mom exactly the way you want to.”
I make a mental note to bring it up with Dr. Grand at my next appointment, even though it’s not really her specialty. Then I change the subject.
“Okay, Monroe. You’re up. How did the conversation with Nate go? I’ve been dying to hear good news from you all week, but you’ve been quiet.”
All eyes cut to Monroe, and hers lock on me.
“Okay. So . . . your boyfriend gives the best relationship advice in the history of the world, as far as I’m concerned.”
I press my palms together like I’m about to pray. “Thank God.”
“Wait, catch me up,” Flynn says before she pops a chunk of potato into her mouth.
“I thought Nate was cheating on me. I went to his away game, followed the team around, and saw them leave with a woman.” She grimaces, but I urge her on with a wink. “Then I barged into his hotel room and searched it for her . . . but she wasn’t there. Nate told me if we didn’t have trust, we didn’t have a reason to be married.”
“Ouch,” Flynn whispers in response to Monroe’s matter-of-fact recitation of what went down.
“Yeah, it sucked a big fat donkey dick, and I thought my marriage was over. So I ran to Scarlett’s and found Gabriel in her kitchen—in a towel, because he just moved in with her, I must add—and he gave me the best advice ever.”
“What advice?” Kelsey asks as she reaches for her water.
“To be honest with Nate and tell him why I’m such a nut job.”
“You’re not a nut job,” Harlow says with a shake of her head. “You’ve been hurt before. It’s understandable.”
“You told him everything?” I ask.
Monroe nods. “I told him everything. All six times I’ve been cheated on since I started dating at fifteen. Why I’m afraid he’ll cheat on me too.” Her typically perfect posture slips as her emotions begin to show. “That I really love him and I don’t want to lose him, but I’m afraid he’s going to find some younger, prettier model and trade me in like all the others have.”
My heart clenches in response to Monroe’s statement, because I never realized how much she’s kept her scars hidden from us. She’s always been the fun girl, the life of the party, the one willing to do anything on a dare. But inside . . . I can’t help but think she’s been looking for belonging and security all along.
Then again, aren’t we all?
“Oh, honey.” Kelsey rises from her chair and walks around the table to wrap Monroe in a hug. “I’m so proud of you for putting it all out there. No matter what happened, that was brave of you, and totally a bold move.”
“I know.” Monroe’s lower lip wobbles. “Nate was pretty shocked too, but he was incredible. I cried, and he held me and told me I never had to worry about that with him, because he doesn’t want anyone but me, exactly as I am. He loves me so much, you guys. I had no idea because I’ve always told myself that he’s just saying it because he was expected to. But he really loves me. He told me he’d retire from baseball if that’s what I wanted.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re kidding.”
Monroe sniffs and looks up, blinking away her unshed tears. “No, for real. He said that he knows as long as he keeps playing, the job will put a lot of strain on our marriage, and he loves me enough to walk away from it all.”
Tears stream down Harlow’s cheeks. “Goddammit, you’d think I was already pregnant. What the hell is wrong with me?”
Kelsey slings her arm around Harlow’s shoulder too. “You’re a great fucking friend, that’s what’s wrong with you. God, you guys. Look at us working out our problems like adults and shit. I’m so proud of you, Monroe.” Kelsey kisses her on the cheek and then straightens to pull a tissue from her pocket and hands it to Harlow. “It probably has some concealer on it, but you’re still leaking, so use it.”