Page 14 of Roommate's Guide to Love

* * *

“Their name wasn’t actually penis, was it? You’re making that up.”

“You’re fucking right it was!” I say to Ainsley. “I got fucked over by P.E.N.I.S.!”

This is apparently the funniest thing I’ve ever said, as all of my sisters, even a sober Ainsley, are falling off their chairs in laughter.

“I’m not laughing at the situation. The whole thing fucking sucks,” Stella says as she tries to catch her breath. “But man, if anyone is going to quit a job, that’s how you do it.”

I tip my beer to her before taking a sip that’s more like a chug. “At least I’ll be remembered.”

I was never going to completely lie to my sisters about my employment status, but I didn’t want to do it here. I still haven’t processed everything, considering it happened two days ago. But as soon as I started talking, I felt lighter with every word.

The shots of tequila that we ordered helped too.

“In all seriousness, Quinn, I’m so sorry,” Ainsley says, wrapping me in a hug like only Ainsley can give. “I know how much you loved your students. And how good of a teacher you are.”

“Thanks,” I say as I feel the tears starting to well. I really don’t want to cry in the middle of The Joint, but between Ainsley’s hug, the booze, and all of the emotions coming back to the surface, it’s hard to keep them at bay. “I know it was the right thing to do, but it fucking sucks.”

“Of course it does,” Stella says. “You built a life and a career out there. Now I’m sure you don’t even know which way is up.”

“I don’t,” I admit. “It’s why I came back here this weekend. Sitting in my apartment made me feel like I was trapped in this box. I didn’t even want to go out for groceries in case I’d see one of those bitches, or worse, one of my students. I don’t know what the school told them. Do they think I’m coming back? I mean, they have to know by now but still… I can’t face them yet. Maybe ever. It hurts my heart to even think about it.”

Fuck, here comes the tears. I’m not a big crier. But the thought of not getting to say a proper goodbye to my students guts me every time I think about it.

“They’ll understand,” Ainsley says. “Maybe not now, but one day, they’ll know that you stood up for them and what you thought was right.”

“I can only hope,” I say as I rest my head on her arm.

The table falls quiet, which is when I realize that I haven’t heard my big sister offer any words of advice. Which is very unlike the one we fondly call Mama Maeve for her want to fix everyone’s lives. Though maybe now that she’s getting regular dick, she’s less bossy? One can only hope.

“Quinn, I don’t mean to be this person…”

Never mind that thought. “Yes, you do, so just say it.”

Maeve shakes her head, but not in a disapproving way. More in the she hates to be the bearer of bad news way. “I support you one-thousand percent in the decision you made. But what now?”

And there lies the million-dollar question. One I don’t have an answer to.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love what you did,” Maeve quickly says. “That took bravery that not a lot of people have. But with that bravery comes the next chapter.”

“I know,” I say, pushing back another wave of emotion that was threatening to come over me. “Can I say I don’t know yet?”

“Of course,” Stella says. “This has been a roller coaster for you. No one blames you for not knowing what’s next.”

I nod, though I wonder if Maeve agrees with my baby sister’s sentiment. “I know I need to figure it out. And I plan to. But not tonight. Tonight I want to be in my drink-until-I-forget stage.”

I look to Maeve, needing her seal of approval on this. “Fine. But know we’re here for you. You’ve been here for all of us. This is the least we can do in return.”

I reach my arm across the table we’re sitting at. “Thank you. Thanks to all of you. I needed this.”

Stella and Ainsley join our hands, and the four of us share a silent moment.

These women…I don’t know what I’d do without them. Or how I got so lucky that when God created the universe, she said, “Quinn Banks, you’re going to be a fucking mess. But we’re going to give you sisters to make up for that.”

And you know what? I’m good with that. Because I love me. I love the mess and chaos that I am. I love that I stand up for things that are right and tell people what I think. And if they don’t like me? Fuck ’em.

Most of all, I love my sisters to the ends of this Earth. We’re opposites in so many ways. But the one thing we have in common is that we love and support each other without hesitation. So whether it’s a shoulder to cry on, getting your sister drunk after she quits her job, or doing borderline illegal things to get back at ex-fiancés, we’re here for it, no questions asked.

---