Page 10 of Manhattan Secret

It’s because of that familiarity being the reason why I left.

Not the only reason, but still.

Once I get the first week under my belt and I have the lay of the land with my new job and those I’ll be working with, I’ll be fine, I know that.

By then I’ll at least have a sofa, a bed and a TV.

Until then, it’s cold pizza for breakfast.

Classy and delicious.

I pull the box out of the fridge and gnaw on a slice of white pizza with extra mushrooms while I go through my bag for the fourth time to check I have everything I’ll need for today.

A ping from my phone alerts me to a text. Another one comes right after it.

Not even 6 am, ordinarily you’d assume it’s an emergency, but I smile, sitting at the kitchen table knowing it’s my two best bitches of all time.

My ride or die besties.

The two women I’ve grown up with and miss like an ache in my tummy.

They are the only two reasons I’ll ever go back to Oregon.

Cali:Wahoo!! First day of school! Are you nervous?

Priya:of course she’s nervous. She’s working with those overly privileged snobs. I just bet they have Evian in the cafeteria.

Cali:I drink Evian, bitch.

Priya:We drank tap water at our school!

Laney:Hi! Yes, a bit nervous. I’m eating pizza.

Cali:WHAT?!

Priya:What happened? Why did you turn to carbs? Whose teeth are we smashing in?

See, my girls know me. I giggle, tossing aside the crust. I’m one of those crazy people who don’t eat the crust. If it has no topping, then it’s useless to me.

Cali:Delaney Sloan you better reply right now. You only eat pizza carbs when something has made you discombobulated.

Discombobulated is such a good word. It can literally mean any emotion. Happy, sad, mad, confused. I was some of all of those last night.

A little homesick, a tiny bit melancholy and nervous for today.

It was all those discombobulating emotions which lead me to do what I did…

The girls are going to freak and here I am without caffeine to deal with it!

Laney:I had sex last night.

Laney:Two times. Three orgasms.

Laney:Really amazing sex.

Laney:And the best part… it was in a bar restroom!!!!!!!

Laney:OMG.

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