Page 64 of The Ex-Best Thing
She says you can keep them until you come home, but don’t lose them.
Olive
SHE’S ALIVE!
I can’t believe you dropped that song and then ghosted everyone. Such a baller
Bree
No one says baller anymore
Olive
Do you need us? I can do an ice cream run and cue up Ten Things I Hate About You. Just say the word
Dash says I can borrow his plane if you want to keep this 007 thing going and don’t want a Belacourt plane being tracked
As though using her boyfriend’s plane would keep anyone from watching her every move? It’s sweet of them to consider my feelings, though. The offer for ice cream and romcoms sets off a primal urge in me to be near my sisters, yet here I am heading to watch horror. Their support is buoying, but it doesn’t make me want to sacrifice what I have here—not yet.
Bree
I’m good right now
Olive
We’re on standby. Just say when, B. I mean it!!
Zoey
Same
Noah
I know I’m not really invited to this, and I want to stay with Cat and Stella anyway, but you’re always welcome here, and I love you. If you need a place to crash and don’t want to go home, you can take my NY apartment, too. Tell me how I can help.
Bree
Love you all
I put my phone away when I turn onto Nancy’s street. Walking up to her door is freeing in a way I can’t explain. There are no paps following me around, no cameramen shooting for our reality show, no one wanting a selfie. I get to act like a regular person.
Can this last forever? I’m falling in love with this place.
Nancy answers the door in a maroon robe over a flannel nightgown. “I was already ready for bed when you called, and I didn’t feel like changing.”
“That’s perfect for a movie night.” I put a hand out and do a spin, showing off my sweats and hoodie. “Popcorn?”
“No, but you go right on in there and heat it for yourself. Bowls are to the left of the microwave.”
We fall into a comfortable rhythm, chatting about the BBB meeting while I get the snacks ready and Nancy plates some snickerdoodles she’d made earlier. I fill her in on the developments everyone made the night before. “Benny agreed to play at the concert if they could convince Bree Belacourt onto the stage.”
Nancy’s brows go up. “Andnoneof them know it’s you?”
“They call me Anne,” I remind her.
She shakes her head. “Any chance you want to sing for our local fundraiser?”
“My presence would drive people away, not bring them in.”
