Chapter Twenty-One
Scarlett
I swing open the front door of The Serendipity to find Lilly and Ashlyn standing on the front steps. Lilly has bags of sushi in her hands and Ashlyn has…a breast pump.
“Hi, we come bearing gifts!” Ashlyn says by way of greeting.
“Um, I think I’m good on the breastmilk, thanks.”
She grins and marches past me inside. “The chocolate is in the bottom of the diaper bag. I had to smuggle it out of my home. I’m convinced the kids can sniff it out.”
“I know I can,” Lilly says with a laugh. They follow me through the lobby and down the staircase.
“Oh, okay, this isn’t sketchy at all,” Ashlyn comments as she looks around the low-ceiling basement. “It’s so airy and bright.”
Leading the way to the apartment, I unlock the door and let them in first.
“Oh thank goodness you have windows! You had me worried for a minute,” Ashlyn gushes. “This is so cute!! I love it!”
We spread the food out on the counter and spend the next hour catching up on life, laughing until our sides hurt, and sampling a little bit of everything.
It’s the first time in a long time I’ve felt at peace and rest with people. Good friends are hard to find, so it’s worth hanging on for all your worth no matter life’s circumstances.
“Oh, I’ve got to pump. You guys won’t be weirded out by it, right?” Ashlyn asks as she unzips the bag holding the breast pump.
Lilly waves a hand through the air. “Everybody’s got boobs.”
“Well not everyone,” Ashlyn shoots back with a laugh. “I wish they did! I’d gladly let Carson do this part of parenting.”
She sets herself up on one of the barstools and I go grab drinks out of the fridge.
“I just love your apartment down here. It’s so cute, and the retro fridge…It’s literally perfect for you,” Lilly gushes for the fifth time tonight.
“I know, right? I’m seriously so happy here. When anyone finds out I live in a basement, I either get weird looks or a lecture and they just don’t understand how great it is.” I set an array of drinks on the counter.
“Anything caffeinated?” Ashlyn asks.
“I’ve got a diet Pepsi?” I say as I spin the can around to face her.
She leans forward to grab it and in the process, one of the bottles falls from the pump, splattering on the floor. “What! Oh my gosh. I just spilled everywhere,” Ashlyn exclaims. “I am so sorry. Ugh, this is how my whole day has been going. Or maybe the last six months.”
I just laugh and head to the closet for the mop. When I turn around, Ashlyn has put herself back together and is grabbing the mop from me. “Ashlyn, it’s no big deal! I don’t mind cleaning it up. ”
She laughs and turns around to mop it up. “I’m not going to make you clean up spilled breastmilk. Good grief.”
“Do you know what I want? No, do you know what I need ?” Ashlyn says as she scrubs back and forth. “A hot, caramel coffee with an extra shot of espresso. Doesn’t that sound good?”
There’s a knock on the door, and I go open it to find Gloria standing there. Holding a tray of coffees.
I glance back at Ashlyn, who’s staring at her with wide eyes.
“Hey Gloria, you want to come in?” I ask.
“No, I’m not about to interrupt your girls night,” she says as she waves at the girls over my shoulder. “But you do know if you want them to come back you probably shouldn’t make them mop your floors?” she adds in a hushed whisper.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Oh we just had a little spill.”
“Well, when I went to get an evening coffee, I saw you all heading downstairs together. I figured you girls might like something. I had them make some caramel mochas with an extra shot each,” Gloria says with a wink. “Girls’ nights are special, and I was so happy to see that you actually have friends.” She shoves the tray in my hand and turns to leave.
I call after her, “But Gloria! I already have you! I don’t need more friends! You’re the only friend I need!’
Gloria laughs as she walks to the elevator bank. “Of course I am.”
I close the door and set the coffees on the counter.
“Wow, I didn’t know my wishing powers were so strong,” Ashlyn says as she leans the mop against the counter and reaches for a coffee.
Wishes? She literally wished for coffee and then it appeared. I’ve had a strange number of wishes come true lately. Wishing Claire would break a heel. Wishing I could kiss Wade.
I pick up a coffee and take a long sip of the sweet drink.
The three of us stand in silence for a couple of minutes before I say, “Listen. This is going to sound so strange, so maybe it’s the coffee talking…but have you heard the rumors about The Serendipity having some kind of magic?”
“Oh yeah! That was all over our high school. Remember how everyone went on that kick of trying to kiss their crush on the front steps of The Serendipity?” Ashlyn asks.
“Please, of course I remember. That was horrible,” Lilly says as she makes a gagging sound. She was popular in high school, and it seemed like everyone pursued Lilly, much to her great frustration.
Ashlyn smirks. “It’s where I kissed Carson for the first time.”
“Do you think any of that could be true?” I clutch the coffee cup, realizing how ridiculous my words sound.
“Wait, you mean like the building is actually magical?” Ashlyn asks with a gasp.
I shrug noncommittally. “It’s weird because I’ve had a few things happen lately…things I’ve wished would happen, come true. And not just in the building—but while I’m mopping!”
Lilly laughs in disbelief. “Couldn’t it just be a coincidence?”
“Definitely.” I take a loud sip of coffee.
Ashlyn sets down her cup and picks up the mop. “I did wish for the coffee while I was mopping. Maybe we should all try it and then see if our wishes come true.”
The three of us giggle like we’re school girls. “It’s a great test.”
Ashlyn holds the mop. “I wish that my baby would sleep through the night.” She passes it to me. “Your turn.”
I hold the mop and try to think of an innocuous wish. “I wish Claire at work would do something nice for a change.” I pass the mop to Lilly.
Lilly clutches the mop and makes a nervous face as she glances between us. “I wish Phoenix Fernsby would get his head—” she pauses and clears her throat. “I wish Phoenix would ask me out.”
We both grin. Ashlyn and I have known about Lilly’s crush on my brother, and it’s been a long time coming. Maybe when he gets home from Boston, he’ll see things with fresh eyes.
“So what wish did you make when it came true?” Lilly asks.
“I wished I could kiss Wade.”
My kitchen is filled with shrieks and demands to explain myself and I’m so happy I have friends like these.