“Thank you. I’d be honoured,” she says, her eyes sparkling with emotion as she returns to her seat.
“I was worried. I mean, I know I’ve not known you long, but you’ve been amazing friends.”
“Time is irrelevant when you find your people,” Avery says.
I nod because, yeah, she’s right. They’re both like the sisters Inever had and always wanted. Don’t get me wrong, Mason is great. I love him to bits, of course I do, but having Lily and Avery to confide in and to do things like this with, especially after I fractured so many friendships due to my past, it’s like I get to start again.
“Very true. Thank you,” I say, unable to hide the emotion in my voice.
“You don’t have to thank us,” Lily says, reaching out for my hand.
I nod and blink away my tears.
“Toast,” Avery says, raising her glass.
Lily and I reach for ours.
“To friends who are family. Cheers!”
We clink our glasses and take a sip, the bubbles tickling my nose.
“Right,” Avery says as she pulls out her phone andholds it above us atthe endof the table.“Get in here. We need a selfie, ladies, to document this occasion.”
After she’ssatisfiedshe has theperfect shot, we ask her to send us a copy beforeshe moves to arrange her cookie and bottle of Prosecco before taking a couple more.
“Need to update my Instagram,” she says. “And this is most definitely grid worthy.”
By the time we make it to Ann Summers, to say we are half-cut is an understatement.
“I think we might have had a little too much to drink,” I say as I beeline for a sexy two-piece.
“Pftt, we’re celebrating. We’re allowed to indulge every now and again,” Avery says as she looks at the underwear I’m holding up.
“Oh, that’s hot,” she says, flicking through a similar one in purple. “Doubt they have it in my size.”
I glance to see her chewing on her lip as she flicks through the hangers and pauses when she must find the size she’s looking for.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she says, pulling it free. “What do you think?” she asks, holding it up to her body.
“One hundred percent,” I reply.
“Oh, yes,” Lily adds as she comes over with a few things hanging off her arm. Avery raises an eyebrow.
“Planning a little something something?” she asks with a wink.
Lily laughs. “A lot of something somethings if I have my way. What about you? Who is that for?”
Avery straightens before flicking her hair over her shoulder. “It’s for me.”
“Uh-huh,” Lily replies.
“What? it is. I don’t need a man when I have perfectly good toys to keep me entertained,” she retorts.
“I never said anything,” Lily replies, not missing a beat.
Avery pokes out her tongue in response. “No, you didn’t have to. Whatever you’re scheming up, you need not, okay?”
That piques my interest. “Oh, are we setting her up?” I ask.
