Page 150 of Through the Storm

“Rebecca.”

“What? I’m just impressed.”

“Cheers to that.” We clink glasses.

A few minutes later, Ella squints at her empty flute.

“Okay.” She frowns. “Tiny problem.”

Rebecca leans back. “I hate when you say that.”

Ella tilts the glass upside down. “I have had more than one mimosa.”

Rebecca nods. “Same. Proudly.”

I blink. “We… all drove here.”

There’s a beat before we all start laughing.

“Oh no.” Rebecca freezes. “Oh no.”

Ella grins. “Oopsie.” She’s already pulling out her phone.

“Who are you calling?” I ask.

She doesn’t look up. “Declan.”

I groan. “Of course.”

She puts it on speaker.

“Hey,” Declan answers. “Everything okay?”

Ella smiles sweetly. “Yes! Everything’s great. We’re just… still at brunch.”

Silence.

Declan exhales. “You can’t drive.”

Ella gasps. “Wow. You just assume we’re irresponsible.”

“You’re not because you called me,” he says. “Where are you?”

Rebecca waves at the phone. “Hi, Declan!”

“I’ll call Ben and Tyler. Stay there.”

Ella beams. “Group pickup!”

Rebecca claps once. “We love a coordinated response.”

We’re still laughing when the door opens ten minutes later.

Ben, Declan, and Tyler all arrive at the same time.

“There they are.” Tyler points at us. “The brunch menaces.”

Ben comes straight to me first, like he didn’t even see anyone else.