37. Noelle
Chapter thirty-seven
Noelle
“So?” Juliet asked before popping a chocolate-covered almond into her mouth. “You and Cal, huh?”
“Jules,” Paisley scolded, elbowing her as they sat side by side on the couch in Paisley’s cozy living room. “You promised you wouldn’t get all lawyer-y on her.”
I’d been invited over for girl time and promised gluten-free goodies and a night of watching The Princess Diaries. Usually, I didn’t book social activities back to back, but without Macy around to debrief with in person, I’d made an exception after last night’s date.
Although I’d spent all day on the couch to prepare for it.
“I wasn’t going lawyer-y,” Juliet protested, her eyes sparkling in curiosity.
Paisley adjusted her wire-rimmed glasses. “She’s usually more subtle, Noelle, but love on the brain has made Jules soft. In the best way.”
I chuckled. “Love looks good on you, sis.”
“Back to you and Cal,” Juliet said, pinning me with a look.
I flopped back in the armchair. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything!” Paisley cried, and she was the human equivalent of a heart-eyed emoji. Seriously, this woman was adorable.
My heart warmed. It’d been a long time since I’d had a group of girlfriends.
Ever since my diagnosis, it had been me and Macy.
And while I loved the girl to bits, I’d been lonely, too.
Missing Aubrey. I’d known her longer than Macy, but it proved that friendship wasn’t who you’d known the longest. It was who stood by your side when the world went to chaos and didn’t leave—they promised to stay, and they meant it.
“We went for tacos and ice cream.”
Juliet cocked her head. “Wasn’t that your official first date in high school?”
“You remember that?” I counted back mentally. She would have been, what, twelve or thirteen?
Juliet scoffed. “Unlike you, I lived with my moony brother during his romantic period. Whoever said teen daughters were dramatic clearly never met Cal. He turned into a regular Shakespeare.”
Paisley giggled, hand to her heart. “That’s so romantic! And Cal and Grey think alike. Grey recreated our first date when he won me back over the summer.”
I’d heard bits and pieces of the story of how Paisley hit her head and lost seven years of memories, including all the years she’d known Greyson.
And while the Greyson I grew up with didn’t have a romantic bone in his body, going by Paisley’s dreamy smile, he’d evidently developed in the romance department.
“Melissa said a girl’s got to lock down a Satterfield man.” I winked at Paisley.
Juliet groaned and reached for another chocolate almond. “Happy for you both, but they’re my brothers. Please spare me the details.”
“So you don’t want to know if he kissed me?” I asked, feeling a bit mischievous.
The expression on Juliet’s face was exactly what I intended—nose-scrunching horror.
Paisley had no such compulsion. “Did he?” she demanded, setting her teacup down, like my answer required her full attention.
“No. We’re taking it slow.”
She nodded sagely. “Good plan.”
Juliet sighed. “I’m the last one I expected to ever say this, but . . . I approve.” Her smile reached her eyes this time. “You’re good for him. But—if you run, I will hunt you down. And if he hurts you, I will make his life miserable.”
“More than you already do?” Paisley teased.
“He loves it. He has no idea how boring his life would be without me. And compared to Ruby, I’m a saint.” She flashed me an apologetic wince. “No offense.”
“None taken.” I wrapped my fingers around the warm mug of tea. “I heard about the salt in his coffee.”
Juliet shook her head. “The poor guy has serious beverage trust issues now.”
“Well, it’s her fault we remet so I can’t hate her too much.”
“Ahhh, the photos!” Paisley brightened. “She showed us. Stephanie is going to be super impressed. You guys looked adorable!”
Warmth flooded my cheeks. “Ruby worked her magic.”
“Where are Grey and Rosie?” Juliet asked, glancing around for the missing duo.
Paisley topped up our mugs from the teapot on the coffee table. “They went to Cal’s. Grey called Myles to see if he wanted to join them, but Myles was busy.”
Juliet chuckled, resting her cup on her baby bump. “By busy he means Mario Kart with a couple of the guys on the team. Myles is the pulse checker, and Mario Kart is his way of getting the guys to open up.”
“Is he still the champion?” I asked, remembering our challenges as kids.
“They keep a running score, and he is unbeaten.” She smiled proudly.
“You ready to watch?” Paisley asked, grabbing the remote.
“The Princess Diaries is such a classic.” I snuggled deeper under the throw blanket, tucking my legs under me. “A couple teens I worked with in New York called it mid.”
Paisley gasped, and Juliet frowned, muttering, “Have they no respect for culture?”
Then we all burst out laughing.
As the nostalgic intro music entered the living room, Paisley lifted her white teacup, decorated with a pretty pattern of blue forget-me-nots. “To culture. And friends.”
Juliet and I lifted our mugs of herbal tea. “Hear! Hear!”