Page 72 of The Change Up
“Honestly, I kind of forgot that he had mentioned it. A lot has happened this semester, but if you guys don’t have any plans mid-May, we have a suite at the fancy spa resort where he’s opening the restaurant.”
Macy’s posture stiffens at the sound of my voice. Worry lines lace her flawless face, and I want to erase them.
“Macy, I want you to come with us. Seriously, the last couple of months have been hell. I miss you, and it’s time to just put the past behind us.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Of course I mean it. Dad made the reservation for three, and I can’t imagine celebrating my birthday without you.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Macy flings her body across the couch and envelops me in a hug. Her arms are wrapped around my neck as she pulls me in tight against her. “I’ve missed you so much.” Her words are muffled in the side of my neck.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Brynn jumps to her feet, her body flying through the air and landing on top of where Macy and I are embraced. “It’s about time you bitches worked your shit out!”
We laugh because it’s so true.
A vibration goes through us from my cell phone just as there’s a knock on the door. “Come in!” Brynn shouts from our pile.
“Brynn! You can’t just tell anyone to come in. What if it’s a killer?”
“It’s probably Q.”
“Probably?!” I shriek as footsteps, as in multiple, sound from the doorway.
“What the hell am I interrupting? And can I get in between?” JP asks from above us as Quinton chuckles. JP is a beast of a defensive back on the football team. He’s also one of Quinton’s closest friends—the two are practically attached at the hip.
Brynn slowly climbs off the pile and finds her feet before she makes her way to her boyfriend. Macy is next to climb off me, only she finds her spot on the couch again.
“Sorry, JP, you missed all the fun,” Macy purrs seductively. Us girls chuckle. JP is such a horn dog and is always insinuating that the three of us are closer than just friends. He’s ridiculous.
“Damn, man. I told you we didn’t need to stop for milkshakes.” JP pouts as he squeezes his thick thighs in between me and Macy.
Quinton sits in the recliner as Brynn crawls up on his lap. He looks over at us and gives a small smile. “I missed seeing you girls together.”
“Thanks, Q. We missed being together.” He and I share a knowing smile. I’m beyond happy for him and Brynn. Since the two of them have been dating, it’s allowed Quinton and I to get to know each other better. Over the last couple of months, we’ve had many late-night chats when Brynn was asleep, and I was up for a late-night snack. He knows a lot of my history—my struggles with my mom’s abandonment, part of my past with Cody, and how much the rift between Macy and I affected me.
Quinton Boyd is one of the good ones, and I’m glad to call him my friend.
“So what are you watching?” JP muses, digging into the couch and lifting his feet to rest on the coffee table as he pulls some of my blankets off me.
“Bring It On: Again. And please take more of my covers.” My eyes roll as he does in fact take more of my covers, but I don’t mind.
“Oh hell yeah, is it cold in here?”
“No, bro, there’s no Toros in the atmosphere.”
“Fuck the Toros, give me the Comets. Goddamn, that Gabrielle Union is fine.”
I shake my head at JP’s attempt at a joke and pull my phone out from the crack of the couch. There’s an unread message from Cody. He’s checked on me a few times since dropping me off, but I haven’t really filled him in.
Cody: How’s it going, Wildflower?
Me: Great, actually. Macy and I worked our shit out.
Cody: I’m glad.
Me: Me too.
