Page 112 of Settling the Score

‘Good riddance,’ Paige said.

‘Are you okay?’ The girls formed a circle around her, hugging her tight.

She was laughing though, while tears streamed down her cheeks. ‘I’m better than okay. I’m elated. I’m relieved. I’m vindicated. I’m – it’s over.’

Sienna nodded quickly. ‘And Chuck is doing everything he can to have those videos removed. It’s painstaking but he’s got a team working on it.’

‘I can’t believe it. You guys really are my guardian angels.’

‘We’re each other’s,’ Astrid assured her, and Bella nodded.

‘And you’re pretty good sidekicks,’ Paige called towards Aiden and Blake, who were still standing by the door, as if they were bouncers in a nightclub, bracing for Harvey’s return.

* * *

He didn’t return though.

After that day’s game, which the Titans won 7-2, Chuck group called them to say that Harvey had been arrested, and also removed from his own company.

They were giddy with excitement and relief, and their celebrations would go down in history as some of the best of all time.

* * *

The next day, Chicago O’Hare Airport

Unlike that cold and blustery, snowed-in night, Chicago was now a picture of autumn beauty, with a crystal-clear sky and flights streaming in and out of the airport, all on schedule.

And four women, who’d met on that fateful night, found themselves back at the airport, accompanying the Titans back to New York. But first, they had a little reminiscing to do. So, leaving the team to the first-class lounge, they slipped out and retraced their footsteps to a familiar bar, with its familiar décor, and the signed picture of Aiden ‘Love of Sienna’s Life’ Carter behind the counter, and found, to their surprise, that despite being busy with a lunchtime rush, ‘their’ table was available.

They swooped on it, sitting silently and staring at one another, as if they almost couldn’t believe how much had happened and changed since that night.

The same waitress who’d served them back then appeared. ‘Can I get you ladies anything?’

‘Prosecco,’ they said, in unison.

‘A bottle,’ Bella clarified.

They all laughed, then Astrid added, ‘And a mocktail.’

‘This is strange,’ Sienna said, looking around, shaking her head a little in wonderment. ‘We’re here, and yet, everything is so different. I don’t recognise the woman I was back then.’

‘No, nor do I,’ Paige admitted.

‘Honestly, meeting you guys changed my life,’ Astrid said.

Bella nodded. ‘I couldn’t have imagined how fateful that drunken chat would be.’ The waitress placed Astrid’s mocktail, an ice bucket and three glasses in the middle of the table. Sienna set about filling the glasses. ‘I don’t just mean because it’s how I met Chase, but obviously that too. It’s more… you guys.’

They all looked at one another and nodded. Sienna felt a lump form in her throat.

‘I never had a sister,’ Sienna said. ‘I never understood what that bond was like. But if I had, I guess I imagined it might have felt like this.’

Bella nodded. ‘But better, because we chose each other,’ she said.

Emotions were strong. They sat quietly, each reflecting on the importance of this friendship.

‘To us,’ Bella said, lifting her glass into the air.

‘To Just Desserts, and our crazy little Karma Club,’ Astrid added.