Home Again
Betty hummed a happy tune as she followed Flower and Alice to the station wagon, glancing back one last time toward the restaurant.
-God, the tension in there was thicker than Giani's gravy, Alice complained.
Betty skipped toward the car.
-I thought it was magical! Like a movie!
Flower unlocked the station wagon.
-Magic is just chaos with better lighting, Betty; don't get too swept up in the fantasy, she joked as she opened the door for Alice.
Betty climbed into the back, settling comfortably amidst the scent of wildflowers and perfume.
-Everything feels so alive tonight! Betty said. Who do you think Ted will bring back from Ednin’s with Jazz? Just Kiku and Liv?
Alice sighed and stared straight ahead.
-Betty, please. He keeps piling more of us into his bed, I don’t know if I like it.
-He does think you two are special, Flower said.
They got back to Zed’s house.
Flower stepped inside, flipping on the hallway light.
Betty immediately kicked off her heels, padding barefoot into the living room.
-This place is always so cozy! And look in the kitchen, I've stocked it up with snacks! Betty told Flower.
Flower tossed her keys into a ceramic bowl on the entryway table with a satisfied clink.
-When is Zed going to be back? Flower wondered out loud. Did he manage to escape Giani's kitchen unscathed?
-Jazz is taking him to Ednin's to check on her 'rehab' of Maverick and Nyx, Alice said dismissively, using air quotes.
-Rehab? That sounds much more organized than the usual chaos we deal with, Flower said. She turned toward the kitchen, wondering if the snack situation was truly as impressive as Betty claimed.
-Well, if Jazz is busy being a chauffeur, I suppose we have ourselves a little impromptu lounge session, she suggested, heading into the kitchen, where Betty was already laying out a spread.
-Exactly! An impromptu lounge session! Betty agreed. It's basically a slumber party without the sleeping part! she exclaimed, holding a chip up as if proposing a toast.
Alice stayed by the door.
-If by 'lounge session' you mean sitting around waiting for a man who’s putting together a harem but doesn’t know who he wants, then I guess count me in, she remarked, though I don’t know why. Fuck me.