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Rosita walked up right behind her. “Great timing.” Carol’s girlfriend folded her into a generous embrace. Rosita’s short and round body presented the perfect complement to Carol’s slender frame.
Dozens of other diners crowded the place, but Carol had been smart enough to grab them a reservation online, so they went straight to the table. They ordered margaritas as the server brought out their chips and salsa.
“We picked a busy night.” Rosita crunched on a chip. “Thank God these tables are spread out, or I’d be claustrophobic right now.”
She nodded and took in the atmosphere. The place had a modern feel with dark wood floors and a giant metal spherical light fixture hanging in the middle of the ceiling, which looked like an art piece to illuminate the room. Dozens of ongoing conversations generated a low-level buzz accompanied by an occasional clink from the busboy clearing plates.
She took a sip of her drink, and the tart taste of lime made her taste buds tingle. The aftertaste of the tequila made her shudder. “Holy cow, this is strong.”
Rosita sipped hers and shook her shoulders in agreement. “Woo! The tequila packs a punch for sure. Only one for me tonight.”
“Me too. Don’t even get me started on the last time I had too much to drink. I could barely make it through the next day. One of my students had to lead the class.” She eyed Carol with a trace of embarrassment, waiting for the inevitable teasing, then crammed a salsa-covered chip into her mouth.
Carol didn’t take the bait but rubbed at her eyes instead. Maybe she was working too hard. God made a special place in heaven for social workers.
Before Liv could ask how things were going, though, her friend excused herself for a trip to the bathroom.
“I’m worried about her.” Rosita massaged her temples. “She needs to go get a check-up.”
She stilled, fear climbing into her throat.
No. Carol got a clean bill of health at the same time she did. They had their last round of chemo on the same day, months ago. “I think she must be overdoing it at work. Have you talked with her about it?”
Rosita shook her head. “You think it’s work? She won’t discuss it.” She took a gulp of her margarita. “Sometimes, she seems fine. Great, even. Like when she’s talking about the stupid list you two have. Or when she’s telling a joke or when we dance. But then sometimes, it’s like she’s made of old paper liable to disintegrate if I touch her.” She looked up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I’m scared.”
Carol approached the table now, her gait slow. But as other diners drifted in and out of her path, Liv couldn’t tell if she would have moved differently without the crowd. “I’ll talk to her. When we go shopping next weekend. I promise.”
The waitress brought out their food, and it smelled so amazing they quit talking for a few minutes to dig in. She had taken Rosita’s advice and ordered the carnita tacos. They were as delectable as promised. Some kind of pineapple salsa happening on top set off the pork to perfection.
They polished off their meal, and she watched Carol smile lovingly at Rosita. Her friend looked happy—tired, but happy. Everything would be fine.
She went home with a full belly and a light heart. Good friends. A sexy guy. A great job. Everything was falling into place, especially now, with her brother out of jail and part of the family again. The flat two-dimensional world she’d been living gained texture every day.
Smiling, she texted Brick.
Liv: Can u talk?
About five minutes later, he sent his reply.
Brick: Give me an hour.
After another minute, he sent a follow-up.
Brick: OK?
How cute.
Liv: I’ll be here.
She changed into a pink cami and white capri pajama pants with little red hearts, then settled in on the couch with her Kindle. The hour flew by as she sank into the story filled with magic and swords, but when the phone rang, she had it to her ear in a second.
“Hello?” Did she sound breathless? Hopefully, he didn’t notice.
“Sorry I couldn’t talk before. Is everything okay?” He always worried about her.
“Everything is great. I had a fantastic night and I wanted to cap it off by talking to you.”
“What made it so fantastic?” His words came out guarded.
