“Can’t wait to try it.”

“Me either,” Maya agreed.

We made our way up the front path and before we could knock, the door swung open and Emily stood there. “Get in here, you lot!” She ushered us inside. “Mia’s about to open the wine.”

The house buzzed with laughter and chatter as we entered. Hannah, Sammy and Annie were already in the small living room. Mia appeared from the kitchen, arms laden with glasses and a bottle of red.

“Ladies, let the fun begin!” She announced, setting everything down on the coffee table.

I kicked off my shoes and sank into the plush sofa, feeling the weight of the week start to melt away. Maybe, just for tonight, I could forget about the rollercoaster of trying to get pregnant and just hang out with my girls.

Mia made her rounds, filling everyone’s glasses with rich, ruby-red wine. When she reached me, she paused. “Oh, sorry, I forgot you were on that cleanse,”

I hesitated, my fingers drumming against my knee. It would be easier to stick with the excuse to keep up the charade. Better that than blurt out that the reason I was sometimes cleansing and sometimes not, because sometimes I could be pregnant and sometimes I definitely wasn’t. But as I looked around at all the girls, chatting and chilling, I really wanted to be part of that. I deserved to kick back. Fuck, I’d earned it. So, ‘No, I finished it.”

“Oh cool! How did it go?”

“Yeah, great. I feel much better.” Of course, I felt a bit shit for lying, but there wasn’t much else I could do.

“Well, alright then! One glass of wine, coming right up.”

As Mia poured, I could feel Hannah’s eyes on me from across the room. I met her gaze and gave a small shrug. Obviously, she knew the real reason behind my ‘cleanse’, and I could see the question in her eyes. So far, only Harle knew that it hadn’t worked this month. Again.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the glass from Mia.

“To the end of a shit week!” Emily called out, raising her glass.

“A-fucking-men!” I agreed, reaching across to clink my glasses with everyone else.

I took a sip of wine, letting the chatter of my friends wash over me. The wine warmed my insides and I felt my muscles truly relax.

A soft vibration on my wrist caught my attention. I glanced down at my smartwatch, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Harle’s name flash across the tiny screen.

Trying to be discreet, I reached for my purse and fished out my phone. As I unlocked it and opened the message, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of anticipation.

I had to bite back a giggle when a donkey’s face filled my screen.

Harle:Derek says he hopes you had a good night’s sleep and that you’re having fun with the girls.

Me:Tell him I said I did, thank you very much. And yes, I’m having fun with the girls.

Harle:He’s glad to hear it and now he’s grumpy because I’m making him go to bed. He thinks I’m being an ass, which is pretty rich coming from him.

I bit my lip, fighting back a grin.

Me:I bet hee hawlways says that.

Harle:Holy shit, that’s so bad it’s good.

I couldn’t hold back the smile anymore.

“Who’re you texting, Cass?” Mia called from across the room. “Must be someone pretty hot to make you smile like that.”

Busted. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I hastily dropped my phone back into my bag. Trying to sound casual and failing spectacularly, I said, “No one.” My voice was way too high pitched to be convincing.

The girls exchanged knowing looks, and I could feel their curiosity prickling in the air. I reached for my wine glass, taking a long sip to buy myself some time.

Mia leaned forward. “Come on, spill. We haven’t seen you smile like that in ages.”