His text said, What are you up to?

None of your business.

Next time I hire a girlfriend, I need to make sure Rami includes a clause about being nice to me.

This is me being nice.

24 days to go... he sent back.

See you tomorrow.

I’d lost the thread of what Jane had been saying, but she seemed to have just wrapped up her story and there was a break in the conversation.

Jane and Margo both turned to look at Leigh. “What’s new with you, Leigh?” Jane asked pointedly. At first I was worried something had come up at one of her doctors’ visits, but the other two were smiling, so that couldn’t be it.

She glared at them. “I was going to tell her. You don’t have to make it a thing for crying out loud.”

“Tell me what?” I asked, looking between the three of them.

“I’ve taken a lover,” Leigh said, cheeks turning red.

“A lover, huh? And how is that different from a boyfriend?” I said.

She smiled shyly. “I’ve had the love of my life. I don’t need another man trying to replace him. I just miss…companionship.”

“Sex,” Jane said. “She misses sex.”

Leigh threw a cushion at her. “It’s always about sex with you, Jane Frederick. Has been since high school.”

“Good for you, Leigh,” I said. “Do you need me to get you condoms?”

She choked on her drink. “You think I’m going to get pregnant at my age, honey?”

“Not for pregnancy. STIs are becoming more common in some elderly populations than college dorms. If you’re exclusive, you’re probably fine, but it’s something to be aware of.”

She said, “And when are you going to do something besides work for a change?”

I rolled my eyes playfully. It was the same debate we’d been having for years because they thought I needed to “get out more.” What they really meant was I should be dating.

She’d told me her secret, so I wanted to do the same. I couldn’t tell her everything, but I said, “You can stop badgering me for once. I’ve started seeing someone too.”

“I knew it!” Leigh snapped her fingers.

“Is that why you’ve been on your damn phone all afternoon?” Jane asked.

I nodded guiltily.

I felt weird lying to them, but I was technically going on dates with him and there was no hiding it since it had already hit the news.

“Tell us about them,” Leigh said eagerly.

I loved her more than ever for not just assuming it was a man. They knew I wasn’t straight, but people still usually tended to default to the straight part of my identity, which was exhausting.

I thought about how to describe Alex. “He’s driven and smart and he makes me laugh.”

“Do we get to see a picture?” Jane asked.

I pulled one up on google, electing not to click on the myriad shirtless options.

“Well, isn’t he a looker?” Jane said as they passed the phone around. “He looks just like that guy from all those movies. Alex Chase. That’s who he looks like.”