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Bridget had expected to stiffen at the thought, but instead, she found it felt rather normal and good. “Eli said you’re cooking for it.”

“I am. In this dream kitchen she remodeled.”

Bridget had to agree. Eli and Sarah came in, Bob shortly following them. Soon the kitchen was buzzing with voices again. Eli glanced over, checking on Bridget like she always seemed to do. Bridget nodded, a silent exchange between them. She was comfortable. For the first time in ages, she was comfortable sitting with a bunch of people who knew she was a lesbian and didn’t care. They loved her just the same. It was the first and only place she had ever felt that way.

“What’s for breakfast?” Sarah asked.

“Pancakes,” Bridget replied, eyeing Eli as she said it. “I’ll make sure to put banana slices on yours.”

“What?” Sarah wrinkled her nose. “That sounds disgusting.”

“It’s amazing.” Eli poked Sarah in the ribs. “You’ll have to try it.”

“I think I’ll pass. No offense, Karen.”

“None taken. I think it’s disgusting, too. Even worse is when she spreads peanut butter all over it.”

“Oh my God!” Sarah’s eyes widened. “I think I’ll puke just thinking about that.”

Bridget snickered behind her wrist as she added in the milk and egg to the batter.

“It’s so good,” Eli defended.

Bridget wisely kept her mouth shut, listening to the banter. She had missed this. This was family, far more than her own family was. They rarely had moments like this in her house. They were never jovial, never teased each other. It simply hadn’t been allowed.

After they all sat down at the table to eat, Bridget rolled her shoulders while everyone helped to clean up. She gladly avoided that chore for as long as she could, claiming she was still too injured. She wished she had grown up like Eli had. Her life would have been so different. She wouldn’t be in her early thirties and still not out, most likely. She’d be happy.

Fuck, what would she look like if she were happy?

Jerica sprung to her mind, and she couldn’t stop the smile that flashed across her lips. Turning her chin up, she caught Karen’s eye, who gave her a questioning look. “What can I do to help today? Just lay it on me. Preferably anything sitting.”

Karen patted her hand lightly. “You don’t have to work for your stay.”

“I want to help. Eli’s been an excellent friend to me, and I want to repay her.”

With a soft smile, Karen nodded. “I understand. I’ll find something for you to do.”

“Thank you.”

CHAPTER13

Two dayswith the Wilsons was enough. Bridget needed a break and a distraction. While she’d enjoyed the time, she was missing Jerica. They’d texted, but she hadn’t had much time to call and talk to her, even though she wanted to. Sitting on the couch in the basement where it was relatively quiet for once, she snagged her phone and called Jerica.

She answered on the first ring. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Bridget smiled, heat rushing to her cheeks.

“I just got off work. You have good timing.”

Bridget wasn’t going to admit that she’d been waiting for the clock to tell her it was time, but that was exactly what she had done. She had waited until she knew Jerica’s shift was over, and she had waited another five minutes just to be sure Jerica was leaving the hospital. Smiling, Bridget played with her sweats. “I suppose I do.”

“You were waiting until it was time, weren’t you?”

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “How did you know?”

“Because I know you, at least better than I used to, and I like you. How’s everything going with the full house?”

“Not as bad as I thought it would.” Bridget risked a glance to the stairs, knowing she was the only one in the basement at least. No one seemed to be coming down, so she decided to open up a bit more. “I wasn’t sure how Eli’s family would respond to me being here.”