“Girl, you for real? You know you can’t plan out every single conversation ahead of time, right?” Jessica had said, while the others snickered. There had been construction going on across the street, and I thought of all three women being crushed under a falling steel beam, or tripping into an open manhole, or my favorite, being run over by a backhoe. Their bodies popping open like balloons under the weight of the machinery.

That was the last time I’d mentioned it to them, but it made me feel a million times better to know I was prepared. I hated it when I thought of the perfect thing to say after the moment had passed, and that happened to me all the time. I’d lie awake at night, berating myself, hating that I didn’t have the right comeback in hand. I know it’s not possible to rehearse every single conversation I have, but there was no harm in being ready. Especially if it was a conversation that was about to change my life. And Kaavi’s too.

My hands trembled a little, making it difficult to read what was on my phone. I tore off some toilet paper and stuffed it into my armpits. The dress code on the invitation said Champagne Chic, which I had to google, so here I was wearing the only beige dress I had brought with me—a shorter flared number that fluttered up far too easily with the breeze on the terrace. I should have known better, but it was too late to change now. Hopefully, I could just leave after I spoke to Kaavi and would be spared from having a potential Marilyn Monroe moment.

I took a deep breath and counted to five. It didn’t work. I removed my watch, brought my wrist up to my mouth, and bit down on the side, hard. Better. I put my watch back on over the reddening skin and swiped through my notes again. My hand didn’t shake as much this time.

I was halfway through when I heard the door to the ladies’ room open.

“Listen to me,” Kaavi’s voice rang through the bathroom, though I couldn’t see her and knew for certain that she didn’t see me.

“Yes,” she paused, while the person on the line said something. “Yes, I know it’s upsetting. Like I told you the other day, I’m really sorry, but your demands are just—” Another pause.

“I am very sorry, but this is bordering on harassment now. Listen, I told you, I am willing to—”

“Is that a threat? Because you know my family and I don’t take very kindly to—hello? Hello?”

Something slammed down.

“That motherfucker,” Kaavi hissed, opening the faucet.

I heard her pottering around the washroom—the sound of her clutch opening, the sound of something dropping on the floor, Kaavi swearing again, until she cleared out a few minutes later.

I sat stock-still the entire time. My heart was beating so hard I was sure she’d hear me. My mind raced over everything I heard.