Page 33 of Embers in the Dark

“Okay. Just holler if you need me. I’ll be right back,” I tell them.

I’m walking back and I hear a quick “I like her a lot” from Kennedy, and a smile spreads across my face. I don’t know why having Kennedy’s approval means something to me. I barely said anything, and what I did say wasn’t very nice.

After freshening up and changing into something a little more comfortable, I make my way back into the living room. The moment I reach them again, Abby has Ella in her arms, but it’s the conversation that has me halting in my tracks.

“Okay, explain that again. You’re telling me that they’re injecting whatwherenow?” That’s coming from Abby.

“Oh, you heard it right the first time. They’re injecting filler in their labia,” Kennedy explains.

“Why? I mean, no judgement, but why?” Abby asks.

How long was I in my room? Is this what women talk about after having kids? And how destroyed does someone’s pussy get after giving birth? Actually, I don’t want to know. I may never give birth if I find out.

“Because some women feel like it deflates too much after giving birth and they want to plump that area up,” Kennedy explains.

“I mean, Clay hasn’t complained.” Abby shrugs. “But now I’m going to ask.”

I’m still standing here like a statue, frozen in place as they have the conversation, although they can see me. I’m not invisible, but I wish I was.

“Hi, Baylee. Did you know women are injecting filler in their labia after giving birth?” Kennedy asks me like we’re lifelong friends.

I continue standing there, unable to form words. Damn it Baylee, you’re not a fucking scared woman that shies away from conversations like this. Why are you being this way?

I finally find my voice. “No, I can’t say I have.”

“I guess the camel-toe is in. First nipples showing through the bra, now this,” Abby says.

“Puffing up the kitty cat.” I laugh. But I don’t stop there, I gesture the words with a motion of my hands. Of course, I say this right when Tucker walks through the door.

Wonderful, this is a great way to start seeing Tucker again after my hiatus from us being around one another. Perfect. Absolutely beautiful timing.

“Ladies,” Tucker nods toward us, “I see you’ve begun corrupting Baylee.”

“Oh, I was well on my way to being corrupted before meeting them.” I laugh.

I make my way over to the kitchen to help him unpack the bags of groceries he places on the kitchen island.

“May I ask what in the world you’re talking about?” Tucker asks Kennedy and Abby.

“Yes, you may ask,” Kennedy says.

“We were talking about how the labia deflates after childbirth and now some women are opting to put filler into thatpart of the body to plump it up,” Abby says as she peppers kisses along her daughter’s face.

“Fucking hell,” Tucker says to himself. “Why do I hang out with you two again?”

“Because you don’t have friends,” Kennedy retorts.

“I could hang out with your significant others instead,” he says back.

“You know they’re not as cool.” She flips him off.

“You’re such an asshole, Kennedy.”

“There’s a baby around now, Malloy. Language.” She double-birds him.

A laugh escapes as I watch this juvenile behavior.

“Can you two stop? We don’t want to scare Baylee this early on in book club. She won’t come to the next meeting,” Abby says.

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