“Thank you, Sweetie. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get off work this weekend to come see you for your big day, but I’m so glad we’ll all be together again soon.”
“It’s really fine. My friend is actually here though, so I should probably let you go,” he says, and I would feel bad if I thought he wanted to talk to her for longer, but I’m fairly certain he was using that as an excuse. She says “Happy Birthday” again and makes him promise to call before his next visit. “Yeah, of course. Talk soon. Love you, too. Bye.”
11
PORTER
Josie busts through the front door of the house, startling me. “Porter, oh my god, Carrie is amazing,” she shouts as she hangs her coat on the rack, probably expecting me to still be in my bed hungover.
“Your text kind of gave that away last night,” I respond from behind her on the couch, and Will shifts on the other one he’s on across from me.
“I totally thought you’d—oh, hello again, Will. What a surprise.” She looks delighted as she turns, and I’m fully aware how this looks. Will is in our house, in the morning, the night after I left the bar with him.
“Will just stopped by to drop off coffee,” I explain, holding up my cup, hoping she’s not about to turn this into a big deal in front of him. The last thing I need while I’m hungover on my birthday is Josie making this into something it’s not.
“Yeah, I’ll head out and let you two catch up,” Will starts, getting up to make his way toward the door. I want to protest, but I really am too hungover to mediate Josie and Will. “Hope the coffee’s helping that hangover. Have a good birthday, Porter. I’ll text you later.”
I wave from my spot on the couch. “Thanks again.”
The second the door closes, Josie rolls her lips between her teeth then raises her eyebrows. “So?”
“So, what?”
“So, what the hell is Will Carter doing here? In the morning! Is he queer? Oh my god, did you guys hook up? Wait, is this a secret? Is he in the closet?”
Questions are flying out of her mouth way too fast for my hungover brain, but I quickly shut it all down. “No. I told you, he literally came over to bring me a coffee this morning.”
“Boo, that’s so boring! So no birthday sex?” She pouts as though she’s just as disappointed in my lack of a sex life as I am.
I snort a laugh as I head back to the couch. “Nope. Seems like the only one who got lucky last night was you and probably Abbey.”
“Mhmm, it was amazing. Carrie is amazing.” Josie sits right next to me, tucks her legs up and hugs a pillow. “I really like her. But I will be a great best friend and refrain from telling you all about my night. Tell me about yours!” She slaps my arm playfully before she continues. “You left with Will and he ‘came to bring you coffee this morning’ so something good must’ve happened.”
“Okay, first off, hedidbring me coffee this morning.” I hold the cup up in front of her again. “You didn’t need to put it in air quotes, but I don’t know. We left the bar, went to Taco Bell, he paid for my food, we walked back here, ate it, he made sure I had water, and then he went home. That was it.”
“And now only hours later he’s back to bring you a coffee on your birthday?” She grins mischievously. “No sex, but clearly someone’s been taking care of you.”
“Yes. Ugh, don’t remind me that he gives off major daddy vibes even though he’s straight.”
“Or you could be his bi-awakening,” she suggests.
“I’m way too hungover for this conversation,” I dismiss,dropping my head back on the couch. “Besides, you know how well thatdidn’tgo for me last time with Robbie. I can’t let myself get my hopes up about another hot guy who has no interest in me.”
“Fine, you’re right. I’ll let it go. I’m just saying, no one’s ever brought you coffee before in the morning to nurse your hangover. I’ve ordered us coffee, sure, but that’s so not the same thing and you know it. He literally left his house to go get you one and bring it here.”
“Not. Helping,” I groan.
“Okay, okay. So, gift time?”
That makes me perk up. “Yes, I’m dying to know. You’ve been dangling this gift in front of me forever.”
“Well, I’m really excited about it!” She hands me an envelope, and I rip into it, pulling out a card with silly raccoons on the cover. They’ve got wide eyes and tiny grabby hands with speech bubbles that say happy birthday in the most ridiculous way. I snort as I open it and see a note written by her on the inside.
Porter,
Happy birthday to my favorite person ever! You’re hot, dramatic, and deeply deserving of good things. You put up with my nonsense, so now I’m forcing you to accept a vacation rental for spring break. You’re welcome. Love you forever, P!
xo Josie
