“What was she like?” She felt like the shittiest human in the world asking Ursa when she could have asked Grant, who would have gladly told her.

“Not like you.” Ursa glanced at Rainy, looking wary, like she thought Rainy might be offended.

Rainy chewed her lip, wishing she’d get on with it. She didn’t need to be coddled; she needed to know what was going on.

“Anyway, everyone was really drunk by the end of the night and Marchessa—that was her name—got into an argument with Braithe, and then all hell broke loose.”

“What type of hell?” she asked. A server appeared with Ursa’s drink. She set it down next to Ursa and looked expectantly at Rainy.

“Same, thanks,” she said. I guess I am drinking again, she thought wryly.

“Put it on my tab.” Ursa waved over her first sip. “So, anyway,” she said as soon as the server was out of earshot, “I was pretty new back then and have never revisited this with them, but Braithe and Marchessa were in the kitchen and all of a sudden Tara comes hurtling out the back door, still holding a tray of hot dog buns, and runs up to Grant to tell him they’re fighting.” She paused to sip her drink and check her phone simultaneously. “Sorry, just have to answer this.”

Rainy waited while Ursa texted. Her drink arrived and she was so thirsty she drank the whole thing before the server left. “Another,” she said. “And two waters.”

“Hair of the dog, get it, girl.” Ursa tossed her phone on the towel at her feet and stretched languidly. “I still to this day do not know what started the fight, but I do know that Grant had to pull Marchessa off Braithe, and then Stephen came running and they were screaming cunty things at each other. After that weekend I heard Marchessa and Grant broke up, and then we didn’t hear much from him until he started seeing you.”

“Wow, okay,” Rainy said. “That’s a lot. Did she look like me?” She asked it before she lost the nerve. Ursa laughed her full, deep, brazen laugh, and it made Rainy laugh, too.

“Get right down to it. No, she did not look like you. She was blonde and bouncy and vegan. You’re like dark and artsy and carnivorous. That’s why it was such a surprise when you came along. I’ve heard them say that he normally dates blondes. You’re his first emo girl.”

“Ha!” Rainy couldn’t help it. She could see Grant dating leggy blonde models and it made her sticky with insecurity. Were they better? Did he like them better? Why did he change his mind and date a brunette? She was glad her eyes were hidden by her glasses, or Ursa would have seen the turmoil behind them.