Page 257 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

Then Becca appears carrying an enormous bowl of popcorn. "Oh good," she says. "We didn't miss the beginning."

I laugh. "What beginning?"

"Your surprise party!"

"My...what?"

Paige suddenly pops into the frame, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I'm late!" From somewhere in the background, Liam calls, "I wanted to be invited!"

"You absolutely were not," Paige says without turning around.

The women burst into laughter.

A second later, Liam's face briefly appears upside down in the corner of the screen.

"Hi, Annette!"

Paige shoves him away.

The call erupts into even more laughter.

For the first time in weeks I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

Becca points toward the camera.

"There she is."

"What?"

"That smile."

She nods approvingly. "We've missed it."

Before I can answer, Becca narrows her eyes.

"Now..."

She folds her arms. "Have you been eating?"

Every woman groans.

"Becca..."

"What?"

"You're impossible."

"I had teenagers," she says matter-of-factly. "Some habits become permanent."

She looks back at me.

"So?"

I can't help smiling. "I've been eating."

She tilts her head. "Properly?"

I laugh again. "Yes, ma'am."