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“You know I’m not one to turn down day drinking, but it’s pretty damn early to be starting on the hard booze, even for me. What’s going on, love?”

“I heard something, I can’t unhear.”

“Ah, Mateo tugging one out?”

Carmen’s face paled. “Oh my God, no! That’s disgusting. I don’t want that in my head. Gross!”

“Alright, no need to get your panties in a wad. I share a wall with you. I know you’re no stranger to getting it on solo.”

“Fuck my life,” Carmen groaned.

“Oh, calm down. What did you hear?”

“Faith,” Carmen forced out. “And Nathalie.” There, no need to explain further.

“What about them?”

“Um, I think, I think they were… you know.”

“Carmen Ruiz, you are a grown ass woman approaching forty. You should be able to say sex without dying of embarrassment.”

“I don’t want to say sex and Faith in the same sentence, ever!”

“Why, what’s wrong? She’s young and in love. Nathalie is wonderful. I would have thought you’d be pleased she was getting nasty with someone she loves.”

“Getting nasty? No, see why do you have to say things like that? Faith’s innocent and young and…”

“Ha, you’re in full parent mode right now,” Enid cackled.

“What do you mean?”

“You see Faith as yours. No parent wants to think of their kid bumping uglies with anyone.”

“Yeah, okay, fine. I do feel a bit like a parental figure. That’s a normal thought, right?”

“Of course. That girl definitely sees you as a parental figure, no doubt.”

“So you get why I don’t want to hear that,” Carmen stated, pointing towards the wall which connected their houses.

“Kind of, but come on. You’re no prude. You know how important it is to talk to kids about this sort of thing.”

“I’m not qualified to do that, Enid. I barely got through the whole dental dam incident.” Not to mention the mutual masturbation conversation.

Enid let out a belly laugh. “Yeah, that was funny. But Carmen, that was a bit of fun. Talking one-on-one with Faith about her feelings and safe sex is very different.”

“Maybe I should call Molly.”

“Maybe you should. First thing though, love. Stop freaking out. Stay and have a cup of coffee and a bagel, then go home.”

“Okay.”

The house was quiet when she arrived home. Slipping on a pair of sweatpants and a fresh tank, Carmen grabbed a few boxes and headed to her new office. She’d face Faith later, after she talked to Molly.

With files littering every surface, Carmen dropped into her office chair. The phone rang several times before Molly finally picked up. “Hey stranger.”

“Hey, Mol, you okay?” The question was met with silence for a few seconds.

“Um, yeah, all good here. What’s up?”