Lila
Hampton, Virginia
It’s late Sunday afternoon and the house smells like taco seasoning and freshly chopped cilantro.
I’ve laid out a spread on the butcher block counters—seasoned chicken, rice, black beans, guacamole, fresh salsa, shredded lettuce, and cheese.
A pitcher of skinny margaritas glistens with condensation next to three amber-colored glasses, ready for my two best friends.
Ivy and Alinna should be here any minute, and I’m buzzing with excited energy. It’s been months since we’ve seen each other.
Alinna is a teacher for an international organization overseas, and while she lives in Virginia she spends many months at a time abroad. She’s currently working with refugees on the Syrian border.
Ivy just moved to Virginia with her three-year-old daughter, Hadley.
She’s done the whole military spouse thing for the last five years, staying home with Hadley and working part time as a ballet teacher.
Her husband abruptly filed for divorce about six months ago.
She picked up the pieces and moved the two of them to Virginia after buying a barre studio with the money her dad left her.
Tonight will be the first time the three of us will have all been together since Alinna’s twenty-eighth birthday in February.
I have a lot to tell them but a phone call didn’t seem like enough. Not when we’ve had this night planned for the last month.
The knock on the door comes as I’m slicing lime wedges, the knife slipping just slightly from my grip at the sound.
I peek my head around the wall to see Alinna strutting in, a full face of flawless makeup and glossy, dark hair that looks straight out of a shampoo commercial.
She’s wearing a flowy blue maxi dress, her skin bronzed from spending time outside.
She wastes no time kicking off her sandals beside my entryway bench.
I feel underdressed in mom jeans and a black cropped tank, my long hair falling out of the bun on top of my head. I push my glasses up my makeup-free face and finish slicing the limes.
“Skinny margaritas and taco bowls? Are you trying to win wife of the year?” Alinna says, kissing my cheek.
“Wife? She doesn’t even have a boyfriend,” Ivy teases, coming in behind her.
Ivy’s outfit is more casual—a soft pink ballet wrap sweater and leggings, like she came straight from her studio.
Her blonde hair is twisted into a low bun, and there’s a certain weariness in her face that wasn’t there before her divorce.
But her smile is warm as ever. “You’re a lifesaver, Lila.
I need this more than I need air right now. ”
I laugh, shaking my head as I pour our margaritas. “Where’s Hadley?”
“Mom’s got her,” she answers, hugging me.
Alinna turns, drink in hand, and points at me. “We need to hear all about your new job, but first, you said you have news?”
Ivy arches a perfect eyebrow as she grabs the chips and dips, taking them to the coffee table. I follow behind, our drinks in my hands. “Don’t tell us you ran off to Vegas and got married?”
I choke, coughing up tequila and making my throat burn.
Alinna narrows her bright blue eyes, studying me as she sets the pitcher down beside the chips.
I set the drinks down and raise my hands in surrender. “I didn’t, I swear.”
“Well, then what?”
I sigh, taking a large swig of my drink before settling in on the couch with them. “There’s this guy.”
Ivy snorts. “Isn’t there always.”
“This better be good. You’ve barely paid attention to anyone since that pilot in Vegas,” Alinna says.
Butterflies barrel through my stomach.
“Goodness, Li. She’s right. You haven’t been this nervous to tell us anything since…well since that pilot in Vegas, actually,” Ivy chimes in pointing to Alinna in agreement.
My face flushes instantly, and their gasps confirm that I’m completely transparent.
“I, well, I’ve kind of been seeing him for the last month or so.”
“I’m sorry. Who have you been seeing?” Ivy’s eyebrows are raised. Her and Alinna both lean in, invading my space in the way only best friends can.
“Logan. From that night. In Vegas. We’ve been…Well, we…” Ugh. Where do I even begin? “Well, I don’t know.”
“What?!” Alinna shrieks, grabbing Ivy’s arm. “After all this time? Say more right now.”
I glance at my margarita for courage, take a deep breath, and spill everything.
I tell them about my first day of work, how I found out Logan’s one of the pilots, about our dates, the secret kisses in my office, and how he’s even more gorgeous now than he was back then.
By the time I finish, they’re both staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“Goodness,” Alinna says, fanning herself dramatically.
I roll my eyes.
“I’m just stuck on the fact that your only one-night stand ever is now courting you like a nineteenth century gentleman.” Ivy shakes her head in obvious disbelief. “Only you.”
“How’s the sex?” Alinna says smirking behind her margarita.
I groan.
“It’s bad?” Ivy’s mouth falls open.
“No no, it’s just, it hasn’t happened.”
“You’re stronger than me. I would have had him in the cockpit and I would not have cared who heard us,” Alinna says, earning a slap from Ivy.
My cheeks are on fire.
“We work together,” I hiss.
“And?” Alinna asks with a smirk.
I huff. “I want to. I mean we’ve already had sex so it’s not even a big deal, right?”
Who am I trying to convince?
“It’s a big deal now since you’re in love with him,” Ivy says simply.
I freeze. “What?” My mind is reeling. “It’s only been a month, I—”
Ivy cuts me off. “First of all, don’t act like I can’t read you like a book. We’ve been best friends for a decade. And second, it’s been a month. You talk to this man constantly.”
My phone lights up.
It’s Logan.
Ivy smirks. “Like I was saying. Not too soon. There’s no right or wrong amount of time to fall in love, honey. Everyone’s different.”
LOGAN: I hope girls’ night is going well. I miss you!
My stomach dips.
LILA: They want to meet you. See if you pass the test.
LOGAN: I’ll pass ;)
LILA: You’re pretty confident.
LOGAN: I am. How about we grill out at my house on Wednesday? Bring your friends. Tell them I’ll pass every test they throw at me.
I glance up from my phone and realize I’ve been smiling at it. Ivy and Alinna are watching me, amused looks on their faces.
“She’s got it bad,” Alinna says laughing and holding up her glass.
“That she does, my love.” Ivy knocks her glass against Alinna’s. “To Lila and Logan.”
“To Lila and Logan,” Alinna repeats.
I bring my glass to theirs. “And to not getting my heart broken.”
Because Lord knows it’s already his.