Page 138 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Rosie squeals. Billie, Tally, and I watch as she rushes over to one of the tables and then lifts a gift bag. “I brought Billie’s present!”

Billie glances at us. “What present? It’s not my birthday.”

Tally and I share a secret smile.

“Maybe not,” Rosie says solemnly. “But I think it is about time we finally induct you into the Hope Harbor Hooligans.”

“The what now?” I say.

“Sorry.” Rosie shakes her head. “I was thinking on my feet. Maybe you can have your hot writer boyfriend come up with a better nickname for us?”

“Trouble,” Monty says with a glint in his eye.

I shoo him away. “You’re ruining the vibe. Go look pretty over there.”

Monty laughs and Eli wraps an arm around his shoulders, guiding him away. “Come on, us pretty boys have to stick together.”

We’re all still laughing when Rosie hands Billie the bag. “You needed your own mug,” she explains as Billie holds up the teal mug that reads, This Is Definitely Coffee.

Billie’s eyes water and she blinks a few times. “Oh my God this is so embarrassing.”

“What is?” I ask.

“I swear I’m not crying because I have friends.” She chokes out a laugh while trying to fight a sob as the three of us surround her in a hug.

“Well, I am totally crying because I have the best of friends,” I offer as my eyes water.

Tally nods, swiping at the tears that spill over onto her cheeks. “We really do.”

The three of us look to Rosie and she blanches. “I’m sorry I don’t cry, but yay for friends,” she says raising a fist and pretending to cheer.

Laughing, I look around for something to cheers with.

“Oh, I’ve got us covered.” Rosie heads back to the table and returns with our mugs filled with prosecco. Once we’ve all got full cups in our hands, she looks us each in the eye. “To the best of friends.”

Tally smiles at me. “To love.”

I wink at Billie. “And to one-night stands.”

Billie rolls her eyes, but Rosie points her mug at her. “You’ve got to cheers and be honest when you do. There’s definitely a man in this room that could interest you.”

Billie’s eyes flit around the space quickly, but before I can see who she’s looking at, Quinn tugs on her arm and her gaze flies to him.

“Hey, Mom, can we dance?”

Billie’s mouth drops open and then she nods frantically, clearly thrilled her son is asking her and not Tally.

As she’s dragged away, she turns to whisper over her shoulder. “Oh yeah, there’s definitely someone.”

Rosie giggles. “I like that girl.”

“Me, too,” I agree, turning so that I’m between Rosie and Tally with a view of the dance floor.

“I just wish she would find someone amazing like we have,” Tally says as she rests her head against my shoulder. I smile as I watch the couples swaying to Etta James, thrilled to see Monty’s parents among them. Vovo and my mother sit on one of the benches beside the space, chatting animatedly as they move in time to the music.

Monty, Walker, and Eli return with glasses of cider, though Walker hasn’t been able to swap his yellow pants out for something more casual. They’re almost blinding with how ridiculous they look.

When we turn back to the dance floor, Quinn has disappeared and poor Billie is now stuck dancing with Stew.