Page 300 of Rush

“One second, guys,” I say. “I want to call my sister.”

“Put her on video chat,” Riley suggests.

I check my watch. It’s evening on a Sunday—she’s probably out for dinner. I open my contacts, my thumb hovering as I notice the call log.

Ignoring the sting of my unanswered calls.

I push it to the back of my mind and dial Philippa.

“Hey, Hollywood,” she answers, all smiles. Her hair is up, the background in motion like she’s walking.

“Hey! Look who’s here with me.” I pan the camera to Ava and Riley, champagne glasses raised.

She squeaks. “Hi, Miss Edwards—I’m ahugefan.”

“Please, call me Ava!”

“Is that Elena?” a voice asks offscreen.

“Yes,” Philippa says, tilting the camera. Sienna, Avery, and Natalie come into view. “She’s in L.A. for the Grammys.”

They all wave, talking over one another as congratulations spill through the screen.

“Table for four,” one of them sings.

“What are you up to?” I ask.

“We just finished a yoga class at Natalie’s studio,” Philippa says, “and now we’re grabbing dinner.”

“Oh, fun! Eat something yummy for my nephew.”

“Now that I’m not puking, absolutely.” She grins. “Have fun—and good luck.”

“I love you, Pip.”

She pauses, just enough for her eyes to meet mine. “I love you too.”

“We’ll catch up when I get back?” I ask.

“I look forward to it,” she says. “Grammy winner.”

“Yes!” Riley hollers.

“A clean sweep,” Ava adds.

“Don’t jinx me!” I squeal, laughing as the call ends.

The screen goes dark, but the warmth lingers—soft, steady, anchoring.

While my love life might be in shambles, my heart is full with the sisterhood of friendship.

After Ava leaves, Riley and I drunkenly sprawl across my bed in oversized band tees and sheet masks, staring up at the ornate wallpaper curling across the ceiling.

“Why does that one look like a scrotum?” Riley muses.

I snort. “Please never say the wordscrotumagain.”

“Scroooooo-tum.”