Page 60 of Replay

Have fun with the girls tonight. Sad I can't make it… I have an incredible voice.

Me

Oh, is that so?

Carter

Yes, the voice of an angel… you’re truly missing out.

Me

Haha! Thanks, we’ll somehow have to survive without you.

Carter

Please try your best.

I stifle a laugh before putting my phone down and picking my curling iron back up. Carter has jokes, and hanging out with him yesterday felt good, refreshing even, like it used to be before wecomplicated things with sex. But spending an innocently casual afternoon with him helped me further realize that’s all we will ever be, and I need to stop playing games. It’s not fair, especially when I know he’ll patiently wait for the day for me to offer more, and that day will never come. Carter and I are friends and will remain that way…hopefully.

Willow

Be there in 10! So excited.

Shit, I need to hurry my ass up. I wanted to be fully ready by the time Willow got here so I could give her all my attention. Karaoke night starts at eight, and if you want to get a good time slot for singing, you need to get there on time.

“Willow will be here in ten!” I yell through the apartment, hoping Bellamy and Darbs can hear me from their rooms.

Darby peeks her head into my room a few moments later. “I just finished making strawberry margaritas. Do you want one?” I notice the extra glass she has in her hand, just as Bellamy walks up, grabs the extra drink, and delivers it to my desk.

“Of course she does. No one turns down a margarita,” She laughs, and we all join her.

“Perfect, thank you,” I say, raising it up. We air cheers and take our sips.

“Oh, that’s dangerously delicious. Tastes like some bad decisions will be made tonight,” Bellamy teases with a wink.

Darby rolls her eyes. “Please don’t forget it’s Thursday.”

“Uh huh,thirstyThursday, my friend.”

A knock on the front door has me up and out of my seat in an instant. I'm so frickin’ excited to see Willow; it’s been way too long.

Throwing open the door, I don’t even give her a second to say hello before I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me. Her short frame barely making it past my chest.

She chuckles from where I have her head trapped against me, and my eyes well up with tears. It’s crazy how close we used to be…and the fact that my stupid father’s actions took away my relationship with her as well. After several more moments, I release her, swiping away my loose tear.

“Shit, I told myself I wasn’t going to cry,” Willow says, wiping away her own.

“Okay, that’s all for tonight,” I tease as I dry my own eyes, and we both laugh.

Darby and Bellamy appear a few seconds later, Bellamy with a drink in her hand for Willow.

“So glad to finally meet you. I'm Bellamy, and this is Darby.”

“Thank you for letting me stay here.”

“Anytime,” the two of them say in unison.

“You’re so frickin’ cute… Are you single?”

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