Everly had just pulled her homemade margherita pizza out of the oven when the front door flew open with a burst of laughter and cold night air.
"Smells like carb heaven in here!" Angel called, sweeping into the kitchen like a tornado of energy in oversized sweats and sparkly pink socks. She held a wine bottle in one hand and a giant bag of All Dressed Chips in the other. "This beauty is straight from Tuscany. I carried it home like a newborn baby through three airports."
Hanna was right behind her, bundled in a massive scarf that made her look like a cozy burrito. She kicked off her shoes and held up a tote bag overflowing with snacks, pulling out sour candy, a bag of licorice , a block of dark chocolate, and a candle that smelled suspiciously like espresso. "Also, I may never wear real pants again," laughed Hannah sliding on her red/blue sequined slippers. "Surprise!" said Hannah, "I bought these in Italy on our trip." She pulled two pairs of slippers out of her bag. "Everly I saw you admiring these in that "Comfy and Cozy" store." She handed Everly pink fluffy slippers with deep pink hearts on them. "And Angel these were just so you!" laughed Hannah and gave her fluffy black slippers with red diamonds on them. I knew we'd be having a girls night eventually and I just had to get them," said Hannah hugging her friends.
Everly laughed as she set the pizza cutter on the counter. "We love them," she said, sliding them on. "They feel wonderful Hannah, I'll never want to take them off!"
"It's like walking on a cloud," said Angel dancing around the kitchen.
The girls giggled at her enthusiasm.
The three of them quickly migrated to the living room where Everly had gone all out for her girls night: candles flickering, fairy lights twinkling above, a stack of romance movies and comedies on the coffee table, and her fluffiest blankets piled high on the couch like a fabric mountain. She had bowls of snacks set out for a night of fun with her girlfriends.
They all collapsed into the cushions with sighs of pure joy, plates piled with gooey slices of pizza and glasses of deep red wine.
"Okay," Angel said, curling one leg under her and taking a dramatic sip of wine, "can we talk about how Everly and Alexander turned our Italy trip into a full-blown romance movie?"
Everly blushed immediately. "Oh please—"
"No, no, no. You have to own it," Hanna chimed in, pointing at her with a pizza crust. "You and Alexander were ridiculous. Holding hands everywhere, sharing gelato, whispering on the balcony like it was a scene from Under the Tuscan Sun."
Everly rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "We just had a good time."
Angel gave her a knowing look.
"He's just… thoughtful," Everly said softly.
"I mean, who finds a rooftop restaurant and learns how to order wine in fluent Italian just to impress their girlfriend?" said Angel.
"He tried to speak Italian," Everly corrected with a blush. "He actually asked for socks instead of sausage."
Angel howled. "Aww really? He's hilarious! But he tried so hard to impress you."
"But seriously," Hanna said, settling her glass onto the coffee table, "he's a keeper. You two were adorable. You made the trip feel like a Hallmark movie."
Everly smiled, twisting her hair around her finger. "He's sweet, thoughtful and romantic. He even had my favorite chocolate waiting for me on the plane home."
Hannah raised her glass. "To a man who brings snacks and speaks sock."
Angel raised her glass. "To dreamy boyfriends who don't make us carry our own luggage."
They all clinked glasses and took a sip giggling before Angel's smile slipped just slightly.
"Okay, I've got one for the wine confessional," she said, setting her glass down. "It's about Basil."
Everly and Hanna immediately perked up.
"He's been getting these weird stomach pains since we got back," Angel said, tugging at her hoodie sleeve. "He says it's just travel stress or maybe too much pasta, but he's been getting pale, and last night he winced just tying his shoes."
"Did he call his doctor?" Everly asked, concern creeping into her tone.
"Not yet. He says he will this week. But… okay, here's the part that's messing with me. You remember that dog at our motel that the girl there said was a medical dog?
Hanna's eyes widened. "Munchkin—the dog who can sniff out cancer?"
Angel nodded slowly. "Munchkin wouldn't stop sniffing Basil's stomach. Like, laser-focused. We thought it was funny at first, but then the girl pulled me aside and said Munchkin never does that unless he senses something."
The room went still. Everly leaned forward. "Angel…"
"I know it could be nothing," Angel said quickly, rubbing her hands together. "But ever since we got back, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm trying not to panic, but it's hard."
Hanna reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "You're not overreacting. But you also don't need to jump to the worst-case scenario. Get him checked, and whatever it is, you won't deal with it alone."
Angel smiled weakly. "Thanks. Just saying it out loud helps." A pause. A few sips of wine. A fresh slice of pizza.
Then Hanna shifted under the blanket and took a deep breath. "Since we're laying it all out there… I need to talk about Kaiku."
Everly's eyebrows shot up. "Wait. You mean your leather-jacket wearing, motorcycle crazy man, call you at 2am, sex all the time, Kaiku?"
Hanna groaned. "Yes. He's back. I've run into him three times since we got home. Once at the corner café, once at the bookstore, and once at the mall. And every time, it's like my heart forgets everything that happened after him."
Angel blinked. "But… What about Jace?"
"I love Jace," Hanna said quickly. "I do. He's kind. Safe. Steady. He makes me feel like I can exhale. But Kaiku… he's fire. Chaos. That first heartbreak is the kind of love that never fully leaves."
Everly's face softened. "Do you think Kaiku wants you back?"
"I don't know. He says he just wants to talk. But I don't trust myself around him. When I see him, it's like I'm nineteen again and stupid."
Angel leaned her head on Hanna's shoulder. "You're not stupid. You're just human. And feelings are rarely tidy. Jace deserves honesty, and so do you. But no one's expecting you to have everything figured out tonight."
Angel added, "That's why we have wine and overcooked pizza."
"And friends who don't judge," Everly said.
They raised their glasses once more, to friendship and feelings and fuzzy socks.
They all laughed, and Hanna let out a deep sigh like she'd been holding her breath for days.
The rest of the night was exactly what they needed—soft music, gooey cheese, bad romance movies they half-watched between talking, and warm blankets. The candle on the table burned low, the wine bottle slowly emptied, and the only thing more comforting than the food was the company.
Somewhere in the kitchen, Everly's phone buzzed—probably a goodnight text from Alexander—but she didn't move to check it.
Because right now, she had everything she needed. Warm pizza. Full glasses. And her best friends by her side.