She stares out the window, her finger brushing absent-mindedly across her scarred eyebrow. I’ve heard whispers of her story at work, that her father kidnapped her before she was forced to kill him. It’s amazing to look at this young woman today. Despite all that she’s been through, here she is. Laughing, smiling, living. Moving on.
Shaking her head, she turns back to me. She smiles and takes a sip of her drink. “You know, I have to believe that forgiveness is possible for even the worst offenses. If not, then what’s the point in it all? Everything shapes who you are, who your daughter will become. And even the bad can be used for good.”
“I hope you’re right. I really do.”
“I know I’m right. I’ve lived it.” She tilts her head to fix her eyes on mine, and I see the faith in her gaze. “It’ll all work out for the best. Don’t give up until it does.”
I focus on my wine and consider her words. I could leave it at that, but in the end, curiosity gets the best of me. “What happened between you and your—” Before I can ask for more details, a beautiful blonde with thick bangs comes and flops down in the booth beside Raven.
“Fuck, finally. Sorry I’m late.” She drops her head back against the high-back seat. “I thought my shift would never end.”
Raven smiles at the woman, the shadows in her eyes from our earlier discussion now gone. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” She shoves her with her shoulder. “Eve, this is my friend Layla. Layla, my overly dramatic friend Eve.”
Eve rolls her head on her shoulders and meets my eyes. “Hey—wow! You’re gorgeous!”
My cheeks heat, and I smile at the ballsy girl. “Thank you. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Propping her head on her hand, she leans in. “Are you single?”
“Eve!” Raven says, her eyes bulging and her mouth slack.
“What?” She looks from Raven back to me. “So? Are you?”
Raven shakes her head and groans. “She’s with Blake.”
What? “No, I’m—”
“Really?” Eve looks as surprised as I feel by Raven’s announcement.
“Yes. She’s still coming to terms with it, but yes.”
I’m shaking my head “No”, but my body is screaming in agreement.
Eve shrugs and slumps back in her chair. “Damn, all the hot chicks are taken.”
Raven rolls her eyes. “She got burned pretty bad, now she swears she’s off men forever.” She turns her body in the booth to face her friend. “Eve, you’re not gay. You like men.”
“I need a drink.” She leans over to inspect Raven’s glass. “What are you drinking?” Eve takes a sniff of the red juice. “Is this a vodka cranberry, minus the vodka?”
Raven’s cheeks flush pink, and she fidgets in her seat. “Yeah. So, I’m driving.”
“No, you’re not. We’re taking a cab.” An uncomfortable silence passes between the two friends, and for a second I wish I could melt into my seat and disappear.
Eve turns her body completely so that she’s facing Raven head on. “You’re lying. I can tell. You’re doing that…”—she rolls her hand and wiggles her fingers in the air—“fidgety thing you do.”
Raven rolls her straw between her fingers. “I’m not lying, I—”
“Holy shit! Holy fucking shit, you’re pregnant!” Eve darts out of the booth and jumps up and down. “Don’t lie to me, bitch!” She points at Raven. “You are!”
Raven buries her face in her hands, her shoulders bouncing with what I think is laughter. Or, is she crying?
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask Raven, ignoring the mixture of excited curse words that pour from Eve.
Raven looks up, smiling.
Oh, phew.
“She’s psychotic.” Raven smiles and now that I take a closer look, she does have that glow. I’m surprised I didn’t see it earlier. There’s only one thing that causes a woman to shine like that.
“You are.” A grin brought on by her contagious joy tugs at my lips.
“Sit down and stop making a scene.” She leans over and yanks Eve back into the booth.
“Fess up, Rave.” Eve crosses her arms in an I-won’t-tolerate-bullshit way.
Raven looks back and forth between us, and we lean in, hanging on for an answer.
She gnaws the inside of her mouth, her eyes sparkling. “I’m not sure.”
Eve throws her hands in the air. “What do you mean, you’re not sure?”
“Did you skip a period?” I’m trying to speak softly to avoid listening ears, but loud enough to be heard over Raven’s boisterous friend.
“I did, but it’s only been a few days.”
I grab my purse and slide out of the booth. “Come on. We’re getting you a pregnancy test.”
“Fuck yeah, I knew I liked this chick.” Eve slides out behind me, Raven giggling behind her.
*
An hour and one very interesting visit to the drugstore public restroom later, we’re at The Blackout. Mac just delivered our drinks and hung out for a little to shoot the breeze. We’re huddled around a high-top table, our eyes on each other, taking long sips from our drinks.
I smile around my straw, trying to keep my eyes on stage where Ataxia is setting up. Eve’s smiling too, her head rocking back and forth in disbelief.
Someone needs to say something. From the moment we left the drugstore and hopped in a cab, no one’s talked about it.