Page 4 of Any Kind of Life
“Then I wouldn’t worry about it. You guys are in a good enough place that you can be honest with one another.”
“I know.” Hannah smiled as she crossed her legs. “I just don’t know what to do for the best. But I’ll figure it out. It’s not as though it’s a make-or-break decision for me, so it doesn’t really matter at the moment.” Hannah sipped her wine, smiling when Caz shifted her gaze towards her. “The others joining us tonight by some miracle?”
“They’re…not available tonight. Something about Rachel cooking Andi a fancy meal at the loft.”
“Isn’t it crazy how everything worked out? I mean, I know all of you for different reasons, but it’s so nice to see everyone happy and in love.”
“It really is.” Paige would have liked to see more of Rachel and Andi, but something kept holding them back. They’d agreed to memberships several months ago, but it was yet to actually happen. Paige could count on one hand the number of times they’d all been together since Rachel met Andi. Still, so long as they were happy, that was the main thing. “I’m so lucky to have all of you guys around me.”
“I think we’re all equally lucky. Considering how some of us know one another, it could have been very awkward.”
Paige had to agree. Hannah had once been Juliet’s escort, but Paige and Hannah were joined at the hip. The very best of friends. Wasn’t life a funny thing?
“Anyway, never mind all of that. Tell me about the next part of this tour.”
Paige puffed out her cheeks. “I still can’t get my head around the fact I’m supporting Soraya again!”
“Paige, she should be the one supporting you. And if Edie has anything to say about it, it’ll happen.”
“Has Edie been watching my sets online?” Paige didn’t know why the thought of that warmed her so much, but it did.
“Watching them? I think she has, like, a YouTube-style book club thing with her friends. They all sit on Zoom together, dissecting your performances.”
“Shit. I’d better not fuck it up then.”
“And she asked me this morning if I’d get your autograph for her while I was here tonight.” Hannah rolled her eyes. “She’s insufferable.”
Paige’s eyes welled a little. “She really said that?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Then I’m going to come to your place one day after school and sign whatever she wants myself. In front of her. Even though she’s like the God kid I never had, and I see her all the time.”
“You should both come ‘round. I’ll cook!”
Paige tipped her cocktail towards Hannah. “You’re on. It’s a date.”
Caz’s head whipped around. “What’s a date?”
“Paige and Juliet are coming ‘round for dinner one night before she goes back on tour.”
Paige shifted her attention to Juliet. She’d seemed a little quieter than usual tonight. “Fancy it, babe?”
Juliet regarded her with her signature smile, but Paige saw through it. Something didn’t feel right. “I’d love to.”
Worried because Juliet never seemed off, Paige got to her feet and took her phone from the table. She quickly brought up her messages and typed one out to Juliet.
Meet me in the office x
“Need the loo. Should I get us more drinks on the way back?”
They all agreed, and then Juliet’s phone lit up beside her wine glass. She eyed Paige, nodding ever so slightly.
Paige squeezed out from between the table and Hannah, making a beeline for the office. No sooner had she gone inside than Juliet was behind her.
“Is everything okay?” Juliet asked, frowning.
“Shut the door.”