Page 25 of Yearn

Each month stitched us closer together.

And we just. . .started calling our little book club MILFs because we weren’t just book-nerd moms—we were still dangerous, still desirable, still hot enough to wreck a sexy man’s life if we wanted.

And slowly, the joke turned into a vow.

And we stopped just being a book club. We shifted to a sisterhood that refused to be erased.

A sisterhood that loved each other down to the bone.

Church without the pews.

Therapy without the bills.

Family without the trauma and judgment.

Every time we sat down together, I thought—God, I wish I had found this years ago.

That was who would answer when I called. Those were the women I trusted with the version of me that had just watched a hot tenant stroke himself in my backyard.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and stared at the screen. My thumb hovered over Rochelle’s name.

The last time I had called her, I had cried about Scott’s games with the lawyers.

Tonight I needed to laugh or I would spiral. I tapped her name and waited for her “Bitch!” to stretch a net under me.

She answered on the second ring, voice bright and messy the way it always sounded when she had a glass of wine and a show on pause. “Bitch! You know the Temptation Villa finale is tonight. I’ve got to see if Claude picks Amina or Messy Becky.”

“Her name is not Messy Becky. It’s Wendy.”

“That bitch is Messy Becky. She’s been doing the most the whole season. She didn’t come on this dating show for love. The bitch came to get a bag after it.”

“Hold up. I’m adding Cadence.” I looked at the screen, then at the little button that would let me bring Cadence in, because I did not want to repeat myself and I wanted her calm in the mix.

I kept Rochelle on the line, tappedAdd Call, dialed Cadence, and waited.

She answered with her soft voice. “Hey, Tey. You good?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to talk to you both about something.” I tappedMerge Calls, and their voices braided together in my ear like we sat on the same couch.

“Is Cadence on yet?” Ro asked.

“I’m here.”

“Are you watching the finale?”

“No. I had to pick up Lisa from cheerleading practice—”

“Girl, we don’t have no time for Lisa tonight. She is sixteen years old. Let that girl drive the car by herself. She’s smart and safe.” Ro loudly sighed. “Priorities! I need someone to talk to about this finale after it ends and Teyonah lazy ass hasn’t even made it to the third episode—”

“Ma’am, I had a case this month that kept me busy with research.” Keeping the phone to my ear, I grinned and headed upstairs.

“We finally have a Black woman that has made it to the end of a dating show and you two bitches aren’t even supporting her. I’m sending an application to the Black People Committee to get your Black Cards revoked this year—”

“You need to calm down.” Cadence chuckled.

“Looks like I will have to do this all on my own.” Ro huffed. “Now I know how Coretta Scott King felt as well as the burden she had to deal with.”

“Oh my God.” Now upstairs, I got to J’s room, and caught grunts, battle cries, the distinct squeak of springs protesting every jump.