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“Tomorrow after work?” Nora says, as though we work in an office together.

“I know the way.”

“I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“See you then, Nora. Take care.”

We hang up and, again, none of this has gone as I had expected. Nora’s an expert at sending mixed signals, what with having her friend pick up the phone when I call, but then, pretty easily, agreeing to meeting up, even though she sounded as though that was the last thing on her mind. But hey, I’m going over to Nora’s house tomorrow. And she did still try to kiss me. Some sort of progress is being made, although I’m not quite sure yet toward what.

CHAPTER15

NORA

“Girls.” Juan heaves his most dramatic sigh yet. “I’m so in love. What am I going to do? Why didn’t you tell me this is what it feels like?” He’s just arrived at my house after his weekend away with Austin and it’s a welcome reprieve from what’s been going on in my head since Mimi called.

“We’re not exactly experts,” Imani deadpans.

“You are.” Juan looks into Imani’s eyes. “Nora’s a lost cause.”

“A lost cause who—” I start to protest.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Imani cuts me off.

“What do you mean?” Juan straightens his spine. “Did something happen this weekend?” He knots his eyebrows together. “Weren’t you having dinner with Austin’s mom?”

“And Stella and Kate,” I say, stalling. But I have to tell Juan. I want to tell him, but him dating Austin makes it awkward in a way I’m not used to.

Imani gives me a look.

“What did I miss?” Juan pushes a strand of hair away from his face. He looks tired and glowing at the same time.

“I had a little too much to drink at Mimi’s and I stayed after everyone left.”

“Imani included?” He narrows his eyes, drawing conclusions.

“Oh yeah,” Imani says. “I was swiftly woman-handled out of the door.”

“Whaaaat?” Juan tips his head.

“I got a little carried away and I, um, I tried to kiss Mimi. She turned me down gently.”

“Okay. Wait.” Juan inhales deeply, then slowly breathes out. “So much to unpack.” He starts counting on his fingers. “One: you tried to kiss another woman. Two: that woman is my boyfriend’s mother. Three: she turned you down? What the hell? I go away for a weekend and everything I once knew is no more.”

I burst out laughing, partly out of nerves and partly because Juan is such an expert at defusing tension. All he has to do is turn up, really.

“Four,” Imani adds. “Mimi’s coming over here tomorrow.” She flashes me a triumphant smile. If she hadn’t been here, urging me to say yes, I probably wouldn’t have.

“Oh my god, Nora,” Juan fans his face with his fingers. “Are you going to be my mother-in-law?”

“Pull yourself together, Jay.” Imani bumps her hip against his side and sits next to him. “It all started when I suggested introducing Mimi to Simone, and Nora protested a little too much.”

“You like Mimi?” he asks me, then looks at Imani. “Did we see this coming?”

“We did not, Jay, but how could we? It has come completely out of left field. Nora has blindsided us, her two best friends. Her family.”

It’s precisely because Juan and Imani always find a way to make everything about themselves that I love them so much.

“Tell me about that kiss,” Juan says.