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“Ah.” Carrie had forgotten about that. “I’m going to get a coffee.” She gestured toward the café at the end of the strip mall. “Want me to get you something?”

Her best friend paused her movements and bit her lips together into a thin line, like she was about to make a big decision. Caffeine didn’t usually warrant such an expression.

“I got twenty minutes,” Kelsey declared and stepped away from her station. “I’ll go with you.”

Cocking her head to the side, Carrie peered at her friend. This close to an appointment, Kelsey never left. What if her client showed up early? The last thing she should do was keep her waiting.

As she looped her arm in Kelsey’s, the two wore fake grins and marched out of the shop. The storm cloud of a heavy conversation hung over their heads as they went through the door. Unease unfurled within Carrie’s gut. What could her friend have to say?

Oh! Was she pregnant? Did she need Carrie to bring her to get an abortion? Of course, she would, but that would require calling off, leaving the state. Did Kevlar know? Would he let her?

Carrie snorted to herself. Like anyone could stop Kelsey from doing what she wanted. Carrie envied that about her friend. She was far more confident and headstrong than Carrie.

“So, a while back,” Kelsey said as they walked down the sidewalk in the direction of the coffee shop.

Mentally, Carrie shifted appointments in her head so that she could take Kelsey to a Planned Parenthood that still did the procedure.

“You were considering sleeping with Kid.”

Carrie stutter-stepped and nearly tripped over her own feet. What did Kelsey say? Blinking wildly, she peered at her friend, utterly confused.

“Did you…” Kelsey hesitated. “Do that?”

“Why do you ask?” Carrie wasn’t shy about her sexual exploits. At least, she’d never been in the past. Kelsey was well informed of all the dirty details about Carrie’s bedroom antics. They shared that kind of stuff. They were that close.

Shifting her attention off Carrie, Kelsey focused on the stroll ahead of them and licked her bottom lip. “You were talking about it, and then the thing happened at the Knucklehead, and I wasn’t sure. You know, with the Halloween planning, I’ve been scattered.”

Kelsey reached for the door to the coffee shop and pulled it open.

Carrie eyed her friend warily as she entered the den of caffeine.

The two stood in the short line with Kelsey staring at Carrie expectantly.

For the first time in the length of their friendship, Carrie hesitated to tell Kelsey something.

Why?

Disclosing her dalliances wasn’t a big deal. So what. She fucked Kid. They were adults. They agreed it was casual—no big deal. There was no reason to lie about it or even deny it.

Yet Carrie stood there, holding back from her closest confidant. The person who never judged her through all the wrong decisions she made. She held her hand through so much. Why couldn’t Carrie bring herself to admit that Kid and Carrie had done the dance with no pants? Repeatedly.

She wasn’t ashamed of what they’d done. Why was she acting like it?

Lifting her chin and wearing an authentic smile, she nodded. “We did. It was fantastic. Just what I needed.”

The two of them stepped forward as the line shifted.

“I’m not afraid to be touched anymore.” When it came to Kid at least. Other people, that hadn’t been tested. Maybe she should look into that. There was no reason not to.

The idea of it soured her stomach, but she could push through that if it meant reclaiming her sexuality.

“I think for the first time in my entire life I had sex on my terms. Not the guy’s. Does that make sense?”

Carrie held her breath, looking to her friend for confirmation. She didn’t need Kelsey’s approval about whom she slept with or when. However, in this moment, she really wanted her best friend to understand her—and have her back.

The corners of Kelsey’s mouth rose, and her expression softened. She leaned into Carrie and wrapped her arm around her.

Carrie sank into the affection of the warm hug. Relief washed over her. Kelsey wasn’t judging her. She hadn’t before and wasn’t now.