“Well, since you have to leave us soon, why don’t we talk about your project,” Samiah said. “How is your search for a hobby going?”

London had decided that finding a way to disconnect from her stressful career was what she needed the most. Becoming a renowned pediatric surgeon had consumed her every waking minute since medical school.

London put up one finger as she continued chewing. She swallowed, then said, “The hobby search is…Yeah, it’s going nowhere. I tried Googling hobbies, but when I typed the H in the address bar, my previous search on hepatoblastoma came up, and I got distracted.”

“Who has to Google hobbies?” Taylor asked.

“Me,” London said. “How about if I make sitting on Samiah’s couch and drinking wine my new hobby? I’m so good at that.”

“Ha ha,” Samiah deadpanned. “Joke’s on you, because that’s actually close to one of my suggestions. I just read about this shuttle that takes you from Austin to several of the wineries in the Hill Country. We can make a weekend of it and stay at one of the cute bed-and-breakfasts out there. Should I book it for next Friday?”

“Wait! I can’t!” Taylor blurted. Sweat instantly pebbled along her hairline. “I—” She briefly closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I can go on vacation right now. I have to consider my clients.”

“Can’t you reschedule?” Samiah said. “It’s just a couple of hours away.”

“I just…” Taylor started. Shit. This conversation had taken the wrong damn turn. “The truth is, I’ve hit a bit of a rough patch. Financially.” Understatement to end all understatements. “I honestly can’t afford to do anything extra, even a short weekend.” She shrugged. “I’m trying to look on the bright side. I could be living out of my car,” she said with a shaky laugh. “Of course, there’s a pretty good chance I will be living out of my car if I can’t pay my rent this month.”

London’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. “What are you talking about?” she asked, leaning in closer to her computer screen.

“That’s my question too,” Samiah said.

Well, this had gone sideways in a hot-ass second.

Taylor massaged her temple with her free hand. Was there anything she regretted more than making this phone call? Maybe stealing Skittles from the commissary back when they lived at Baumholder Army Base in Germany. Or that time when she used bleach to dye her own hair when she was in the seventh grade.

Okay, so she’d made her fair share of effed-up decisions in the past, but this group call definitely ranked up there.

Yet…

If her friends were willing to play the part of sounding board, why not go ahead and let them? She was tired of shouldering all of this on her own.

“Taylor?” Samiah said.