Page 135 of The Best Shot

She clicked her tongue. “All the good ones.”

Ava reached for the brownie box. “Have one. It’ll cheer⁠—”

“No,” Tabby said immediately.

I laughed. It came out wet and a little broken, but it was real.

And the night became ours again.

38

SPICE CABINET

Tabby:

Annie: what the actual fuck

Ava: i needed 24 hours to process that conversation

Annie: i needed 24 SECONDS before i was ready to catch a felony

Tabby: same honestly. i was THIS close to throwing hands

Ava: what kind of man shoves his sister into a wall

Tabby: i always wondered why yasmine never talked about her family

Annie: mystery solved they’re garbage

Ava: “if you forgot me, i’d feel relieved.” BARS.

Tabby: she looked like she meant every word. was she talking about hale’s father?

Ava: i think it’s likely

Tabby: my heart breaks for him.

Ava: mine does too. but if she wanted us to know more, she would’ve said more.

Annie: agreed. however back to SHAUN, the waste of space, we’re not just letting that slide right?

Tabby: oh lord.

Annie: yasmine cut them off. that’s her choice and i respect it

Ava: absolutely

Annie: but WE didn’t cut anybody off

Tabby: listening

Annie: i’m just saying we are free agents

Annie: spiritually unburdened by yasmine’s moral high ground

Ava: what exactly are you proposing here

Annie: nothinggggg. merely noting that i have free time and a very particular set of skills