Except this doesn’t feel like something I’m passing through. Elle doesn’t feel temporary to me. She’s my best friend. And Evan…
“Smells good,” Elle announces, leaning over the pan to peer in.
“Thank you,” I say, nudging her back with my hip. “Don’t inhale the steam, though. That’s how you lose your eyebrows.”
Her gasp is immediate. “You can lose eyebrows?”
“Yup,” I confirm solemnly.
She studies me for a second to see if I’m joking, then laughs when she decides I am.
My phone buzzes on the counter, and I wipe my hands to grab it, while Elle wanders off to the living room. She wanted to play dress-ups this afternoon after school, so I dug out my silver heels to let her dress up in, too.
Frankie Monroe has added you toBadge Bunnies
Frankie:Welcome, slut.
Remi:Ignore her. Hi.
Me:I’m sorry, what is this?
Frankie:It’s our group chat
Frankie:For us. No firefighters allowed
I stare at the name again.
Me:Badge Bunnies???
Remi:She changed it from my previous suggestion
Frankie:It’s iconic and you know it.
Me:I refuse to be referred to as a bunny
Frankie:You’re absolutely a bunny
Remi:You’re definitely a bunny
Me:I hate both of you
Frankie:Be that as it may… Girls night tonight. Don’t argue.
Remi:8pm, Neverland. The badges finish at 7. We’ve earned it.
A small smile tugs at my mouth before I can stop it, and there’s another buzz before I’ve even typed back.
Frankie:And wear something cute!
Me:You twisted my arm. So long as Gwen’s recovered from her trial-trauma
Remi:She’ll be fine. Heels mandatory, FYI
Me:Heels? Why
Frankie:Because we wanna know what Evan thinks when he sees you in them
Me:what?
