Once I situate myself in dry clothing, I make my way back to the bedroom and find Izzy resting casually against the headboard with a Dr. Pepper waiting for me.
I haven’t had soda in years, not since I left. Truthfully, I haven’t had much that would be considered unhealthy in the last six years, so I groan the moment the bubbly liquid touches my lips. It fizzles down my throat, and I unsurreptitiously belch as it settles in my stomach.
Placing the cap back on the bottle, I put it on the nightstand and crawl beside Izzy on the bed.
Her eyes rake my body up and down before she meets mine. “You look good, Quinn. California obviously agrees with you.”
“Thanks. I really love it there. All the people, and there’s always something going on.”
Izzy smiles, but I can tell by the way her eyes don’t crinkle in the corner that she’s forcing it.
“What’s going on, Iz?”
She takes a swig of her own Dr. Pepper and I watch as she gulps it down. She straightens her back and moves to sit cross-legged on the bed.
“I had always hoped you would hate it there and move back home. Of course, that’s a terrible thing to think for your bestie. And when you told me that after a month of being there, you had gotten the lead in that movie, I prayed it would bomb. But it didn’t, of course. You were amazing in it, and you're amazing in all of the movies.”
“Izzy, I had no idea. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I’m your best friend and I never wanted to hurt you. Plus I knew your parents made it hard to come back.”
My parents. That’s a sticky situation in itself.
“Do you plan on seeing them while you’re home?” she asks.
“I don’t intend to, but I do want to stop by the house at some point. And Izzy, I’m sorry I didn’t make an effort to visit you more. I haven’t been the best friend in the world.”
Flicking her hand in the air, she lets our troubles fall by the wayside.
“You’re an award-winning actress. None of us ever really expected you to come back. I’m just glad I get you for a little while.”
Leaning over, I rest my head on her shoulder and she rests hers on top of my head. It reminds me of a time when we were inseparable and innocent.
“So tell me, what’s this surprise?” I question as I take a deep breath, letting the damp, cool air from the central air system fill my lungs.
“Well, I was thinking we could go out tonight and celebrate your being home. We’ll get dressed up and everything.”
I eye her skeptically. The last thing I remember is there was only one bar in town, and it wasn’t a place for young girls to visit. Hopefully that’s changed.
“Where did you want to go? I didn’t really bring any dressy clothes with me.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll just need shorts and boots. The stereotypical Texan outerwear.”
I hate to tell her that I haven’t unboxed my cowboy boots since I packed them up years ago. When I moved to LA, I took my entire savings from working at the vet’s office while in high school—after purchasing my car, of course—and rented a teeny-tiny studio apartment. I was lucky to get a big break when I did because I would’ve ended up on the streets soon. California is expensive. After my first movie launched me into stardom, I was able to afford a larger condo. During that move, I just shoved the box onto the upper shelf of my closet with everything else that reminded me of home.
“And where will we be going exactly?” I ask as I move off the bed and start unpacking my duffel bag of travel clothes.
“It’s a bar downtown called Sidewinders. It’s new, and every once in a while they have a band that plays. Come on, Quinny, don’t be a hermit.”
I chuckle as she leaves her spot on the bed and stomps her foot heavily on the ground. Leave it to a twenty-four-year-old to throw a tantrum like a toddler.
“I’ll go, but I need a nap first. And don’t call me Quinny. You know I hate that.”
“Ok, nap. I’ll leave you alone, but first I have one quick question for you.”
Prickles tingle along my neck as she grabs the shirt I’m folding from my grasp and tosses it on the bed.
“Look at me, Quinn.”