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“Aye, Tori!” Miguel yells over the privacy fence, making her sputter in laughter.

“Stalker!” his sister yells back. “We’re going to sing break-up songs and be ridiculous. Don’t get your feelings hurt.”

“Tesa, I’m going to come over and spank that ass,” her husband grumbles, making her blush.

“Griff, honey, you know she’ll like it,” Tori calls back over.

It’s a good thing we don’t have any other neighbors. That would be awkward to unpack while throwing away trash.

The music Lay requested begins to play before our yelling gets too crazy, and I grin as“abcdefu” plays. Singing loudly, I take a sip of my water as I pull down my protective lenses. The girls cheer and sing with me, skipping to pick up bats, and Tori even finds an ax.

I had a conversation earlier with my therapist, and she reminded me that my shifting emotions were normal. It’s good to recognize how quickly they’re moving, and find healthy forms of release. Picking up a bat, I shrug.

If it’s therapist approved, why the fuck not. Singing loudly, I smash a vase, pretending it’s Atlas’ face. I can absolutely be angry for my sister. He’s been my safe place for years, how dare he behave badly with one of the most important people in my life.

Fuck him.

“Ah!” Layla screams, smashing the corner of an old wardrobe Roark found. It’s god awful and ugly. It deserves to die a noble death at her hands. “Stupid dicks!”

“Amen, sister!” Tori yells, slamming the ax into a cabinet. “I really think all the blood leaves their brains, and when it returns, they get the worst ideas.”

“True story,” I agree, shaking my head. I’ve had my fair share of Derek being a jerk to me. While I know his truth wasn’t the right version, it colored all of our interactions.

“I just want to have sex,” Layla yells, breaking another vase. There’s a lot of sexual frustration, I’m adding vibrator shopping to my list.

“I sense blue clit happening,” Tesa says sagely as she takes a sip of her drink.

“It’s so blue it may very well fall off,” Layla grouses.

“I’m buying vibrators for you while the kids are up late tonight,” I announce. “I know where the best ones are. No sister of mine is allowed to be sexually pent up.”

“Lennon,” she laughs as she lifts her glass. “I don’t know if you should be buying me vibrators.”

“Why not,mija?” Tesa laughs. “I bought some for Tori when she broke up with an ex.Dios mio,he was a psychopath. It’s absolutely done. Especially after a break-up. Orgasms help the process.”

She says it so matter of factly, I have to hold back a giggle. I fucking love these girls.

“How do orgasms help? I’ve never had one.” Lay sighs.

Brows raised, my hand rests on my hip. “Oh they’re assholes,” I say in disbelief. “I know they know where a clit is. I’ve heard more stories than I ever needed to from their conquests. God, they really are this pen-de…”

“Pendejo,” Tori and Tesa chorus, choking as they laugh.

“Yeah, that.” I nod. I’m not even drinking, but Spanish has always been a difficult language for me. I’m pretty sure I failed it in high school.

“Ugh, somehow the knowledge that they’ve given other people screaming orgasms makes it worse,” my sister yells with a huff.

“So tell me about it,” I encourage. “Give me a lyric.”

Lips pursed even as another song plays loudly around us, she bobs her head as she thinks.

“Condescended and shoved aside

All I wanted was a tiny ride

You take my heart. Then push me away.

Now I'm gone what do you have to say.