27. Hello Princess

On a Saturday morning two weeks after Simon leaves me fighting tears–unsuccessfully–outside the departure area, I’m sitting at the kitchen island, on a video call with Nicki.

“What’s that on your neck?” she asks, making a gesture towards her own neck.

I reach for my neck and raise my brow. “Like what?”

“Like a hickey.” Nicki’s eyebrows pull together as she moves closer. “Wait…actually that looks more like a bite mark.” She sits back and wiggles her brow at me. “I suppose you are not taking it slow this time, uh?”

I shake my head and wiggle a finger in the air. “Let’s not get sidetracked.”

“Seriously, we need to get together ASAP! It’s been so long since we gossiped,” she whines.

“We don’t gossip,” I say, popping a piece of apple into my mouth.

She’s right, we need to get together. I didn’t get to hang out with her over the holidays because she went on a cruise with her boyfriend. And now, she’s busy with art school some six hours away.

Nicki cocks her head, and her face is one big ‘s