"I'm so glad you've finally found the time for us," Kara said venomously as she sipped her cocktail on a girl-outing the following Thursday evening.
"I'm sorry," Ellie said. "I know I've been a lousy friend this past week, but I've been so busy."
"Too busy to pick up your phone?"
"I said I was sorry, but I
have
been busy."
"Jason?" Dayna said.
"Yeah, among other things."
By
other things
, Ellie was referring to her precious brother, who'd been hogging the bulk of her leisure time. On Monday, she'd joined Michela and him on a road trip, and she couldn't have had a better time with them. She'd totally delivered on that day, obliterating the bleak memory of their last getaway into oblivion. She and Oliver had even risked it in the car and held hands with Michela in the backseat. She felt as if they were a family, a real family, and she'd wished for that day to never end.
For the rest of the week, she had been dividing her time among her lover, her niece, and Dave. She and Michela were growing closer by the day, especially when Ellie had begun taking some of the load off of Oliver's shoulders regarding his daughter's meals and baths. Ellie was getting quite attached to her niece, even if she herself hadn't realized just how much.
She and Oliver had been having their stolen moments once Michela was asleep: taking long strolls in the cold, pretending to watch a movie in the living room when they were actually fooling around under the wool blanket, and taking drives to remote places where they could love each other freely.
In between, Ellie was planning Oliver's birthday party with Dave, who as her confidant, was rewarded with the truth about her and their bro, even if she initially hadn't intended to divulge it. It would have been futile anyway, Ellie knew, since Dave had seen right through their act, and she really needed someone to confide in about them however difficult it was for her to admit their relationship to Dave and for him to accept it.
"Has he been giving you problems?" Dayna said.
"Surprisingly, no. I think that what happened on Sunday persuaded him to give up. He moved out on Tuesday, and I changed locks promptly." Ellie sipped her appletini, brooding on Jason. "And don't forget I had a wedding to cancel, which has cost my parents a shitload of money."
"No offense, Ell," Kara said, "but your parents can afford it. Hell, you can afford it."
"Yeah, but still..."
"Didn't Jason pay half?" Dayna said.
"No, I didn't want him to. It was me who got us in this mess. I knew I didn't love him for months, and yet I stalled, and stalled... hopefully, he'll think better of me now."
"I don't think he could've paid for his half even if you'd forced the bill down his throat," Kara sneered. "He's broke, isn't he?"
"He's not broke, but... he doesn't have great means, either."
"He doesn't even own a car," Kara scoffed. "What guy at this age doesn't own a car?"
"He didn't need one! It's not that he couldn't afford it."
"Either way, you made the right call. He would've only mooched on your inheritance."
"Kar, Jason's not like that; he's a decent guy. Just because I don't love him anymore, doesn't make him a bad person. He's a good guy, and he'll find the right girl for him in the end."
"Fantastic; very mature of you, Ell. Now can we please stop talking about that broke loser?"
Dayna and Ellie burst out laughing while Kara smiled proudly. The straight face which Kara was serving her digs with was priceless.
"You're just incorrigible, aren't you," Ellie giggled as she quaffed her beverage. "Fine. What does Kara wanna talk about? Brad again?"
"Dear god, no. I don't even wanna remember I ever knew that barely four-incher."
Dayna chortled, and Ellie was equally amused.
Since Kara had always been very graphic about her sex life, Dayna and Ellie, along with currently absent Lyndsey, felt they could have probably picked Brad's small cock out of a police lineup.
"Then what guy do you wanna talk about?"
"You know, Ell, it really hurts when you always think that all I do is talk about guys. I
do
have other interests, you know."
"Such as?"
"Stuff," Kara said cryptically and shot her drink down her gullet. "Like... boys."
The trio guffawed again.
"Well,
excuse
me for being so quick to judge," Ellie said sarcastically, stressing all the right vowels for the perfect delivery. "So what guy—sorry—what
boy
do you wanna talk about?"
Kara smiled as she pulled back her russet-dyed, shoulder-length hair. "Your hot brother as a matter of fact."
"My hot brother? I have three hot brothers; be specific."
"She does make a good point there," Dayna agreed while smiling knowingly at Kara, which hadn't escaped Ellie's perceptive eyes.
Kara smirked back at Dayna before she shot Ellie a sly look. "The super-hot."
Ellie's blood seethed in her veins as she stared into Kara's man-eating eyes. For her best friend's sake, she'd better not be alluding to her baby bro.
"That doesn't help narrowing it down," Ellie said in a strict, no-nonsense tone.
"Really?" Kara frowned in surprise, her long nail circling the rim of her empty glass. "I was sure it would clear up the situation..."
Ellie gulped, anger welling up inside her. "Well, by that slutty look in your eyes, you'd better not be talking about Jack."
Kara snorted. "Oh, please. Out of all your hot brothers, he's the least hot." She chuckled and ordered another round for the three of them. "Besides, I would never go after an attached guy."
"Wouldn't you?" Ellie said, all kinds of insinuations in her tone.
"Well"—Kara smirked playfully—"not after an attached guy who's my best friend's brother."
"Isn't that comforting," Ellie retorted. "So you're not talking about Jack?"
"Try try again."
"One down; one to go," Dayna said.
Ellie shot Dayna a look, now confident that she was in the know, before setting her eyes back on Kara. "Well, it's a tough one, so why don't you spare me this game and tell me what exactly you want us talk about that involves one of my brothers."
"Isn't that exciting?" Dayna said, indeed looking excited. "How she keeps the thrill going by not guessing further?"
"It is, actually," Kara admitted with a grin and sipped her drink. "I've been lately thinking that... you know, that Sunday has helped me realize a few things."
"Do tell."
"Well, for starters, I've realized how much I love you."
"I'm touched."
"As you should be. In fact, I love you so much, Ell, that I want us to be this close forever."
"Oh, stop. You're gonna get my mascara running soon."
Kara gave a strained giggle while revising her approach since Ellie seemed to her quite unfriendly if her wry, expressionless replies were anything to go by. The tension around the table was very much palpable.
"Can I be honest with you here, Ell?"
"You
must
."
Kara sipped her drink while weighing her words. "You see, I've been doing some thinking, and I've realized that... we're not that young anymore! Yeah, we're hot and still have great bodies, but... it's time to settle down. Don't you think?"
"You gotta be kidding me. You, the eternal party girl, is done partying?"
"I know I've sorta got a reputation of
livin' it large
—and don't get me wrong, it has been a great life for me—but... it kinda loses its appeal after a while, you know?"
"I can't believe what I'm hearing here. How would you
ever
be able to give up all those meaningless one-night stands?"
"Fuck you, Ellie. Not all of us were fortunate to hop between one meaningful relationship to another. And I'm not ashamed of myself. Yeah, I've been playing the field and probably fucked more guys than I should have, but it doesn't mean that I don't want the same things you, Dayna, and Lyndsey want."
"So what are you saying, Kar?"
"I'm saying that... I don't wanna keep doing this! To still be partying in my thirties like a sad middle-aged slut. I'm 27 for god's sake! I want what Lyndsey and Liam have. I want a husband and kids and the whole white picket fence shit, maybe even a dog... oh, and a nice—"
"
Kara
."
"But I digress. Anyhow, I'm worn out by this debauched lifestyle, and I'm looking for a serious, committing relationship now."
"Fascinating," Ellie remarked in the same cold, remote way she had been commenting until now. "What does all of this have to do with the brother we speak of?"
"Good question. So while I'm reflecting on this life-changing revelation, what do you know? Sunday happened."
"I'm still not following."
"Your brother totally made a move on me, and I, obviously, shot him down out of respect for you, but... I kinda like him, and I want you to give me your okay."
"You want to date my brother," Ellie reiterated, if only to make sure she understood correctly.
"I do. And again, I'm in a totally different mindset now. I'm not gonna play games with him; you have my word."
Ellie calmly sipped her appletini and pondered which of Kara's cheeks she was going to slap first. The left one did seem to be begging for it. Yeah, she was going to pull her hair, and then...
Ellie started laughing, overwhelmed by the welcome sensation of relief. Kara and Dayna were amused, yet they did not interrupt Ellie while she was cracking up for a long moment.
"Oh my god..." Ellie ended her laugh with a part sigh part giggle.
Kara laughed, as well, though in a more anxious, confounded manner. "So, is that a yes?"
"Kar, you know you're like a sister to me... of course it's a yes! Go for it! I'll be the first to congratulate you if it actually works out."
"Oh my god, seriously, Ellie?"
"Seriously! And honestly, you're like a really good fit, if you don't mind the age gap."
"God," Kara giggled in amazement. "I was so worried you were gonna veto it! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that you trust me with your brother."
"Why not?! And I know it's early and all, but just think that if you hit it off and got married... you could be my sister in-law!"
"Yes! That was... the exact point I was going for at the beginning! I'm so glad you... Ellie, thank you."
"Not a problem. Listen, Kara, you are an amazing person who's just struck out in love. And I know my brother; he's one of the good guys. I'm sure that with Dave it's gonna be differ—"
"Hold it, hold it, back it up," Kara chimed in, her eyes widening. "What do you mean with
Dave
?"
"What do you mean what I mean? You were talking about Dave, weren't you?"
