Page 107 of October
“Don’t forget about how Enid and Jill dated briefly,” Melinda added, walking over with Kyle, Jill, and Willa.
“Hey,I’dlike to forget that. Thank you,” Willa noted.
“Me too,” Caroline said as she and Enid joined the group around a firepit that Myra and Logan had constructed when the sun started to set. “No offense, Jill.”
“None taken,” Jill replied. “I like to think that I got her ready for you.”
“What?” Enid asked through laughter. “That’s not what happened.” She turned to Caroline.
“I know, babe,” Caroline said. “We were about to take off, if that’s okay. I’m setting up in the Square tonight.”
“Setting up what?” Finley asked.
“She’s an artist. She sells her sketches and paintings there a few times a week now,” Enid explained, sounding like a very proud girlfriend. “And I’m her ride, so I’m going to take her, but if anyone wants to hang out with me at Café Du Monde for a couple of hours while she works, feel free.”
“Want to go?” Jill asked her girlfriend.
“I could go for a beignet,” Willa replied.
“We made them in Asher’s kitchen,” Linden shared. “They were good, but not the same.”
“There’s so much sugar,” Asher said, shaking her head.
“She’s still eating healthy, despite my terrible influence,” Linden teased.
“Anyway, we’re taking off. Thanks for having us, Elisa and Myra,” Enid said.
“Thanks for coming. Take any of the extra food. We can’t eat it all.”
“Okay. Have a great night, everyone,” Caroline said and took Enid’s hand.
Finley watched them walk toward the back gate, and then, Asher and Linden both stood up.
“I think we’re going to go, too.”
“Café Du Monde?” Jill asked.
“No, home,” Linden replied with a smile. “We’ve been busy with work, and we haven’t…”
“Linden!” Asher slapped her playfully on the shoulder.
“What? We’re all friends here. They get it. I miss my girlfriend. We’ve been too busy and haven’t–”
“Cleaned the house recently,” Asher interrupted. “And we need to do that tonight, so we’ll see everyone later, okay?”
Molly laughed against her body, and it made Finley smile.
“I think we’ll catch up to Enid and Caroline to get some beignets for ourselves,” Jill said and turned to Willa. “Want to grab some extras and run them over to Mom and Juni?” she asked of her little sister.
“Sure,” Willa replied. “Maybe Juni will want to watch a movie or something.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” Jill told her. “Dropping off beignets is one thing. Giving up a Saturday night with my girl to watch a cartoon is quite another.”
Willa laughed and said, “We’ll becleaning the houselater, too, I guess.”
“Lots and lots ofcleaning.” Jill pulled on Willa’s hand. “Thanks, everyone.”
They left, and Asher and Linden followed them out. One by one, or rather two by two, people left the party until it was just Gwen and Juliet, Molly and Finley, India, Logan, Rory, and Ava helping Myra and Elisa clean up and put things away. They talked, laughed, and divvied up the leftover food and drinks that Elisa insisted they take. Finley caught Rory and Logan making out in the backyard more than once until they finally left, claiming they’d becleaning their apartment, too, tonight. WhenFinley looked over at Molly after the last time she caught Logan with her hand moving under Rory’s shirt, Molly appeared to be in deep thought, sitting in a lounge chair, staring at the two dogs who were asleep on the deck.
