Page 25 of The Silent Hour

Yet here she was, still showing up for lunch.

It was a pact of sorts between the four of us to never let life keep us apart.

We'd been girls together, and now, as women, the bond had only grown stronger.

Toya and I had met in pre-K, our parents already close enough to seal our friendship before we even knew how to spell the word. Mehgan, as Toya's cousin, had been a natural addition to our two-person circle, turning us into a trio.

Then Carmen came along in middle school, fearless even then, and fit right in as though she'd always been meant to.

Through crushes, heartbreaks, moves, careers, marriages, and babies, we'd held on to one another.

I couldn't do life without these women.

"There's our Juju," Toya greeted, lifting her glass in salute as I approached.

"Ladies," I greeted warmly.

"I saw you pulling in," Mehgan said. "Ordered a cocktail, your usual. Should be here soon."

"You know me so well."

I pulled out a chair and sank into it, setting my purse on the spare one Carmen had dragged over solely for that purpose.

We didn't bother with the whole so, what's new in your life? routine. We already knew those things from the texts, calls, and endless group chat that kept us up to speed.

Menus came and went now that I'd arrived, and by the time we were halfway through our meals and I'd swapped my cocktail for water, the conversation had taken an inevitable turn.

"So," Mehgan began, her eyes flicking around like she was about to drop Area 51-level secrets, "have you heard what happened with Elena Dawson?"

My brow furrowed. "I haven't heard that name in a long time."

"I think I heard some whispers," Toya replied. "Didn't pay much attention. It's your ass who always needs to gossip. Carmen too."

Carmen slid her a look. "I don't gossip, honey. I state facts."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Go ahead, then. Fill us in."

"So, we have the same nail tech, and she spilled all the tea..."

"Isn't that, like, ethically wrong or something?" I cut in.

"And using her nail tech as a therapist isn't?" Toya shot back.

I lifted a bite of fettuccine. "Touché."

"Anyway," Mehgan continued, "her husband has been having an affair for almost two years."

Carmen folded her hands. "How did she find out?"

"The girl showed up at her door and told her. Had proof, I guess. Photos, receipts, whatever side chicks like to keep on their phones."

Toya made a face. "Do you know the kind of balls you've gotta have to show up at your sneaky link's house, where his wife lives with his kids?"

Mehgan shrugged. "She was apparently tired of being his secret. It gets worse, though. The girl was one of El's old students."

"Oh, hell no," I breathed, disgusted.

Carmen tapped a nail against the rim of her glass, deadpan. "I cannot say how I would react to that. Maybe invite her in for a drink, lace it with arsenic, then figure out where to bury him. Since he seemed so fond of her, they can spend eternity together in a nice dark hole."