The next day, New York was waiting for me.
More importantly—
My girls were waiting for me.
I picked up Charlotte first.
The moment she entered the car, she looked at me.
"You look tired."
"Five-hour flight, remember?"
"You still came."
"Obviously."
Then we picked up Elena.
The moment she opened the car door, she smiled.
"Aurelia!"
"Finally!"
She hugged me.
"Come on. I have been waiting for this gossip session."
"Same."
We headed to a restaurant where we could sit peacefully, eat, and do what our group had always been famous for.
Questions.
Gossip.
And absolutely unnecessary analysis of everyone's lives.
The three of us settled at the table.
Elena looked at me.
"So…"
Charlotte looked up from the menu.
"So?"
Elena smiled.
"You called us after months and suddenly decided to come to New York. Something happened."
"Nothing happened."
Both stared at me.
I sighed.
"Fine."
I leaned closer.
"I have something to tell you."
Elena immediately put the menu down.
Charlotte looked mildly interested.
"Go on."
I started telling them everything.
The case.
Italy.
Montclair.
The recent events.
And, eventually—
Vincent.
Elena's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Charlotte continued eating.
"That's it?"
I stared at her.
"That is not 'that's it.'"
"It sounds like it."
"Elena, say something!"
Elena placed her hand dramatically over her chest.
"Aurelia…"
"What?"
"You are stuck in a love drama."
I almost choked.
"A what?"
"A love drama."
"Explain."
"You, Vincent, the person you think might be interested in you, is actually in deep love, and what makes it interesting is all the confusion surrounding everyone."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It doesn't need to. It's a love dramabecause I said so."
Charlotte shook her head.
"You both need help."
"You have no right to say that," Elena replied. "You are the one who has absolutely no interest in relationships."
Charlotte shrugged.
"Correct."
I laughed.
"Still no boyfriend?"
"No."
"Anyone?"
"There is a guy."
Elena immediately leaned forward.
"There is a guy?!"
"He keeps pestering me."
"Pestering you?"
"I have warned him already."
"And?"
"He apparently doesn't understand warnings."
I looked at Charlotte.
"You're a neurosurgeon. Surely you can diagnose this."
Charlotte gave me a completely blank look.
"No."
Elena burst out laughing.
"You see? This is why I love our group."
I shook my head.
"Nothing has changed."
"Everything has changed," Elena replied. "You are talking about Vincent."
I looked down at my drink.
"Maybe."
Elena smiled knowingly.
"See i like Vincent and he likes me too, but i want him to court me cause i want."
"Seriously Aurelia? This habit never changed"
Charlotte commented.
Elena laughed
Charlotte continued eating as if none of this concerned her.
"But wait, Elena what about your love life?"
"My?"
"Well you know, i think i am stuck in a love square!"
"Elena you were hiding this ?"
"I know right Charlotte, so sad Elena, now spill the tea..."
"Actually, i think that i am a girl rather love interest between my Childhood friend who is a dancer, my worst enemy - who is a singer and a complete stranger who is a Cricketer..."
"Wait hold on , you mean you love life included 3 tropes, friends to lovers?"
"Enemies to lovers?"
"And strangers to lovers"
''Yes both of you are correct , i am stuck okay but no worries i am handling it very well...''
"Yeah can see"
Charlotte always loved to tease both of us, this topic continued with teasing and laughing...
But for the first time since leaving California, I felt completely at ease.
No courtroom.
No hospital.
No emergency.
Just my two best friends, a table full of food, and enough gossip to last us the entire afternoon.
And honestly?
I had missed this.