The Rewind by Stiling Nicole

Author:Stiling, Nicole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2024-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Alicia wished she could have taken them back. The jubilance they’d experienced—over something as benign as a bookstore trivia win—had dissipated.

“I can’t. Taryn is waiting for me.” Katie crumpled her napkin and tossed it onto her empty plate. “It’s pretty late.”

Alicia stole a glance at the giant wooden clock on the far wall. Seven forty-two p.m. They weren’t exactly burning the midnight oil. But she honestly hadn’t expected Katie to accept the invitation anyway. After how cold she’d been, Alicia was surprised Katie didn’t just get up and leave.

“Rain check for me, too. Gavin needs to shower and brush his teeth before bed, and Jack is so lackadaisical about it. He’d let him rinse with mouthwash and call it a night,” Violet said. “At least Maddie is up on her hygiene. Maybe we can do it some night soon. Cam, you coming?”

Alicia grabbed the plastic bag off her chair and stood. Violet and Katie were already heading toward the door. She started to follow.

“Actually, I think I’ll go with Alicia.”

Alicia whipped her head back toward the table. Had she heard that right? She wasn’t the only one who was surprised. Katie and Violet stopped dead in their tracks and turned back toward them.

“What do you mean?” Katie asked.

Cami raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean what do I mean? It’s quarter of eight, it’s been an epically shitty week, and a game of pool sounds pretty good. That’s it.”

Alicia clamped her mouth shut. Did Cami actually just agree to go to Birdie’s with her? She hadn’t really been expecting anyone to say yes, though she’d hoped that Violet would agree. And then maybe Cami would too if there was going to be a threesome. She didn’t think Cami would go alone with her in a million years.

“I’ll meet you there?” Cami asked, swinging her keys around her index finger. She pushed her chair in and walked by Katie and Violet.

Alicia followed slowly, giving them a chance to congregate. She knew they must have questions, especially since Cami had only agreed to be civil, not to go out and play pool with the enemy. At least, that was how Alicia assumed Katie saw her, anyway. Violet was more of a question mark, but she probably had reservations as well.

On cue, they caught up to Cami and whispered something furiously. Alicia saw her shrug and shake her head, then walk toward her Jeep. Whatever they’d said hadn’t deterred her. Alicia’s throat tightened. This was really happening. After all the years that had passed, after all the daydreams she’d processed, after all the fantasies she’d chalked up to longing delusions, it was really happening. She was going to be in the same space with Cami, not as adversaries or fragmented acquaintances, but as…friends. Or something like it.

Alicia scurried out of the Book Cabin and found Katie’s sedan parked next to her Prius. She waved, but Katie didn’t wave back. She lowered her window a few inches and crooked her index finger to call Alicia over.

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