Page 25 of Our Little Moments

I smile. “Nice seeing you too.”

“Finally, there’s Hazel. She’s the baby of the family.”

She giggles. “Stella, don’t listen to him. Just because I’m the youngest and shiest of us four doesn’t make methe babyhere. Isa is, since she’s pouting all of the time.”

Isabella fake gasps. “Hazel! You’re supposed to be the kindest one of us, how dare you say I’m the baby here.”

She raises her hands in surrender while laughing quietly.

I love them all.

“Well, we didn’t come here just to annoy you both,” Layla starts.

“Yeah, right. I almost forgot. Hazel distracted me with her heartless comment,” Isabella continues.

Hazel stays quiet, looking at me and waiting for her sisters to speak.

“We wanted to tell you we are having a girls’ night tonight. So, you’re welcome to join us if you want to,” Isabella says casually.

“W-what?”

Hazel smiles at me warmly, understanding in her eyes. “We know you’re new to town, and we wanted to get to know you better. We’re usually the ones welcoming tourists, but Adrian got ahead of us this time.”

Emotions swirl inside of me.I haven’t made friends in so long.

“Of course, I’ll come.”

The three sisters scream in joy. Everything around me fades away, and all I see is their happiness. And for the first time in years, I feel alive.

For the first time in my life, I don’t want toearntheir love, affection, and time or prove myself. I want them to love me for who I am.

Chapter 10

Stella

I’m thrumming with nervousness as I look around my room for what to bring.

It’s been so long since I’d had a girls’ night. What do I talk about with them? What do they expect of me?

What if they don’t like me?

And now I’m annoyed with myself because those shouldn’t be the thoughts of a twenty-seven-year-old woman, goddammit. I should be able to be myself and not look for acceptance from others.

But it’shard.

A knock on my door distracts me from my nervousness.

Wait. They can’t be here already! I’m—I’m not ready!

Panic makes my heart pound.

Crap, crap, crap! What should I do?!

Well, you open the door, dumbass.

I take a deep breath to steady my panic as I open the door, my whole body sagging in relief when I realize it’s Adrian.

“Hey.” I open the door wide in case he wants to come in.

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