"What did you get at the grocery store?" I left my bag by the front door, not at all concerned with where I would be sleeping at night. For the chance of a long summer with my friends by the lake, I'd gladly sleep in the bathtub if needed.
"I didn't get up there. They're having a sale today for some festival in town, and I must have stopped at three little dress stands. I got a few new things. You want to see?" Cindy stopped at the opening to the kitchen as I walked in and grabbed a few warm cookies.
"Absolutely," I groaned in delight over the cookie. "Are these from scratch?"
"Did you really just ask her that?" Dedra moved closer and snagged the other half of the cookie from my hand. "You know you're talking to a fully degreed chef."
I smirked. "How could I forget? I'm quite jealous."
"Me, too." Dedra leaned against the counter and let out a long sigh. "I finally found a basketball court where I can play hoops. You wanna go check it out with me later today when you get settled?"
Though I was tired as hell, there was no way I was denying her. "Of course, though getting my ass handed to me by the captain of our basketball team does not sound like fun."
"Was the captain," she pursed her lips and shrugged. "I don't know what I am now. It's weird not belonging anymore."
"What? You'll always belong. That's silly." I popped the rest of my cookie in my mouth and ran my hands over her upper arms. "And besides, now it's your turn to teach young girls how to be great team players and leaders like you were, D. Like you are."
"I guess you're right. It's just such a hard transition." She took a shaky breath. "I thought I was going to spend my life playing ball, but I guess not. Having to grow up and tuck that dream away has been the hardest thing I've ever done. Even beyond losing my dad when I was little."
"I get that," I said as I squeezed her shoulders one more time and picked up two cookies, giving her one. "My dreams aren't worthy of focusing on, either, at least not from my father's perspective."
"Don't get me started on your dad." She narrowed her warm brown eyes at me.
Cindy's voice startled me. "Okay. Check it out."
She twirled around in place, showing off the pretty, blue summer dress that fit her thin, model-like body beautifully. She was almost completely flat-chested, and yet with all of the other great attributes she had to show off, she was nothing less than stunning.
"Wow. I'm not standing next to you wearing that thing. Not ever." I smirked as she turned around once more.
"I love it. I bet you could wear it, Cora. We're about the same size. Well, except for your boobs." She ran her hands over hers and let out a growl. "Damn genetics."
"Is she complaining again about eating everything in sight and still being thin?" Emily walked into the kitchen and smirked. "Seems like such a problem to have."
I clapped my hands. "Alright. Are we going to get groceries before we settle in? I'd rather get that out of the way."
Dedra glanced over at Cindy. "I thought you got groceries this morning while I was cleaning the whole house?"
Cindy's cheeks turned pink, making her even prettier. "Sorry. I got dresses?"
I laughed. "And, you have no room to talk. Cleaning doesn't include shoving shit under the beds and in the closets."
Cindy glanced at Dedra and gasped dramatically. "You didn't!"
"I did." Dedra shrugged before turning and darting down the hall. Cindy ran after her, the two of them laughing as her blue dress danced around her.
"I need this." Emily picked up a cookie. "I swear I'm turning into a statue. A cold, unfeeling, solid form."
"No. Not you." I moved in behind her and squeezed her shoulders, massaging her neck as I glanced out the large window that sat over the sink in the kitchen. "We'll change that. You just have to stop defining the tight lines around your life."
"How do I do that?" She let out a huff and shoved the cookie in her mouth. "How do I get out of this shell? And don't you dare say something about my clothes."
I laughed and released her. "Fine, but when you're ready to start living a little, come talk to me without borders erected all around you. No walls. No protection. Just you, and I'll help."
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"Whatever. Why are you a business major again? I still think you'd make a great counselor." She turned to face me as she licked at her fingers.
"That is not on the approved list of career choices, Cora Beatrix Ross." I shook my finger at her like my father had done to me a million times.