“Well, well, well. Look who’s decided to join us looking freshly fucked and happier than a Cleveland Browns fan that’s just been told their team is actually going to the Super Bowl.” Penelope smirks up at Charlotte as she finally joins us at brunch, fashionably late.
It’s a Sunday in the middle of July, and the weekly brunches I have with my three best friends have finally reconvened. The past few weeks have been insane, but I’m so excited to have the opportunity to share my good news and unfortunate circumstances with my girls. Venting with your girlfriends is its own special kind of therapy.
“You know I don’t care about football, so that comment doesn’t mean much to me. But the rest of what you said is true.” With a pleased smile on her face, Charlotte reaches for her mimosa and leans back in her chair. Her dark hair is down in waves around her shoulders, and her smile is blinding.
“Shame you don’t follow football, ladies. All that testosterone, muscular men in tight, shiny pants, grunting and yelling, and all that adrenaline you know they have to burn off somewhere…” Penelope trails off, licking her lips.
“Yeah, I think you have a problem,” Charlotte mumbles before turning her attention to Noelle and me, smiling from ear to ear again.
“I take it your makeup with Damien went well?” Noelle prods further.
Her lips spread wider as happiness exudes from her. “Yes. Everything is good. We are happy, in love, and giving our relationship a real shot.” She sighs wistfully. “I found my person, you guys, and only made a million mistakes to get there.”
Charlotte reconciled with Damien Friday night as she planned, and we all knew that the vibe of today’s brunch was going to depend on how that night went.
Noelle reaches across the table, grasping her hand. “Then it was worth it. And we are so happy for you, Charlotte.”
“Thank you.” Charlotte twists her head, looking around Frankie’s Diner, the restaurant we go to for brunch each Sunday in a quaint neighborhood in Los Angeles. As soon as you step in the door, your eyes are hit with the nostalgic look that most diners from the 1950s have—teal booths, black and white checkered flooring, chrome details, and pops of red here and there. Frankie’s Diner serves up classic American cuisine and bottomless mimosas too, which we always take full advantage of. “God, how long has it been since we’ve done brunch?”
“Almost three weeks,” I answer her. “Between your parents’ anniversary celebration in Hawaii, the Fourth of July, and the past few weeks when you’ve been wallowing without Damien, it’s been a while.”
“Well, there will be no more wallowing,” she says. “So what has everyone been up to while I was ruminating in my pit of despair?”
“Just work mostly. Spent some time with my parents over the Fourth,” Noelle answers. “Avoided looking online for another date since I know nothing would come of it anyway. Read a few romance novels looking for my next book boyfriend since I can’t find one in real life.”
I guess after reading about fictional happily ever afters for a living, you become obsessed with finding your own. Out of all of us, she’s the one that wants to find her soul mate and have a family more than anything.
“I have several events coming up in the next month and a half, so I’ve been swamped as well,” Penelope adds. “And I’ll let you know the dates of events that you bitches can attend before we leave. But I did manage to tan a bit yesterday, which was heavenly.”
Penelope works for Edelman PR company, handling everything from businesses to celebrities since she works at the office based in L.A. I’m not even sure how she keeps track of everything and everyone she’s involved with, but the woman is good at her job and always brings us along to take advantage of the perks.
“Nice. Damien and I spent all day inside yesterday.” Charlotte grins over the rim of her glass.
“I don’t think you need to elaborate on what you were doing,” Penelope chides.
“Hey, I’m going to live in my blissful bubble right now until I have to go back to reality tomorrow at the magazine.” Charlotte works as the senior advertising executive for Revision Magazine, one of the most profitable women’s magazines in the country. “What about you, Amelia?”
I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath, eager to share my news. “Well, I have officially been operating out of my new office for two weeks, girls, and it’s perfect. My clients are happy with the setup, and I love having a separate space for work now. And yesterday, I received a phone call from the Los Angeles Times. I’ve been nominated for the Best of Los Angeles Award for Best Marriage Counselor.”
“What?” they shout in unison.
“Amelia, that’s amazing!” Charlotte declares. “We need to refill our mimosas and toast to that, for sure.”
“How does that happen?” Noelle asks as she passes our glasses to Charlotte, who tops them off.
“It’s all based on nominations, so that means that former clients must have filled out the survey.”
“I might have seen your name on the list and emailed it out to everyone that I know, too,” Penelope adds, giving me a wink across the table.
“Penelope! I haven’t treated all of those people though.”
She bats her hand at me. “Doesn’t matter. I know that you take your job very seriously and deserve this honor, and this will help get your name out there even more, Amelia. You deserve this.”
Noelle nods. “I agree. This will be great for business.”
I can’t hold back my smile. “Thank you, Pen. That really means a lot.”
Specializing in female empowerment and sexual awakening, I’ve made it my mission to work with women looking for ways to learn about their bodies and what makes them happy in their sex lives, both with and without partners. However, in the past few years, my practice has gravitated more toward helping couples as a marriage and sex therapist, focusing on their physical and emotional relationships.
I’ve also partnered with a few companies I endorse that make sex toys. My clients can purchase them directly from me to aid them along their journey. Overall, I’d say I’ve used my sexual psychology degree and minor in business quite well since I graduated early from college. However, it always still shocks people when they learn how I make my living given how I can be perceived as the shy, quiet type.
Penelope raises her glass, and we all follow her cue. “To Amelia. To running a successful practice, being your own boss, and being the best of the best!”
“Hear, hear!” We clink our glasses together, and each take a sip of our mimosas.
“So when can we see your office? I know we didn’t get a chance before Hawaii, and well afterward…” Charlotte shrugs, knowing how out of the loop we’ve all been with each other over the past few weeks.
“Well, how about after we’re done here? It’s not too far, and I did bring the keys with me,” I say as I dig them out of my purse and jingle them in the air.
“Yes! That sounds perfect.” Noelle looks to the other girls.
“I don’t have any other plans today, so that works for me,” Penelope agrees.
Charlotte nods. “I guess Damien can wait another hour or so to fuck me again.”
Noelle smirks before she takes another sip of her drink. “Glad to know that you feel comfortable sharing that information with us.”
Charlotte narrows her eyes at Noelle. “Like we’ve ever kept secrets from each other. I mean, if you can’t discuss those types of things with your girlfriends and be candid about sex, then what’s the point?”
Penelope nods. “Charlotte is right. So why don’t I tell you guys about the guy I banged last night…”
Noelle holds her hand up. “Frankie! We’re going to need more champagne!” Frankie acknowledges her from across the restaurant, beaming as he grabs us another bottle. “I especially need another drink if I’m going to have to listen to all of you discuss your sex lives while I’m not getting any.”
“Hey, it’s been a while for me too,” I tell her, rubbing her arm for comfort.
“It happens. Lord knows I had cobwebs growing down there before Damien came around,” Charlotte adds.
We all stare at Penelope. “Are you guys done wallowing so I can tell you my story now?”
Noelle rolls her eyes, I chuckle, and Charlotte urges her to continue. “Oh, please…tell us everything.”
“All right. So this guy approached me at this event, and I swear, the outline of his dick in his pants was halfway down his thigh…”
* * *