Millie and Ava are the first to leave since they have babysitters at home and need to get back early. Ava promises me a shopping day out which is hit or miss depending on her mood. Sometimes, her taste is on point. Other times, I wonder what the hell she thinks about making me try on some old lady dress. It ends up with us arguing, which is why we always take separate cars.
Addy is flying back home tomorrow, so I welcome her stay since it was just me and her living with my parents for the longest of times.
Back at home, as predicted, Mom did drink too much. She starts giggling, her steps wobbly as she attempts the stairs. Dad wraps his hand around her waist to help but then leans in to whisper. Whatever he says makes her giggle louder. I can’t believe these two are so inappropriate, like Addy and I are invisible tonight.
“Can you believe these two?” I complain aloud to Addy. “After being married for this long, why do they still act like horny teenagers?”
Addy laughs, lacing her arm into mine, and walks us to the patio outside. It’s a beautiful night out, warm but not uncomfortable. I’m so full from dinner and the mocktails, so the idea of lying by the pool feels perfect.
We both lay down, removing our shoes and glancing at the sky.
“You know, most women envy what Mom and Dad have,” Addy says wistfully.
“What do they have?”
“Unconditional love, comfort, connection, and a friendship,” she begins with, then continues. “A lot of women I see are still searching for all of this. It’s not easy to find someone who is equally your partner and best friend plus have sexual chemistry at the same time.”
“What do you mean sexual chemistry?”
“It just works. There are no boundaries, no rules. Everything is from within, and when you’re at a level of comfort with a partner, it’s a freedom like no other.”
“That makes no sense to me,” I admit truthfully. “There are always rules. Like, don’t cheat on me.”
Addy chuckles softly. “Sure, if you’re not in an open relationship. Those rules are kind of a given, though. Once you commit to someone, you trust them unless, of course, they give you reason not to trust them, but that’s a whole other story.”
My mind wanders back to Cole and me. While I don’t think Cole cheated on me, we often fought when rumors swirled around school about him hooking up with other girls. I’m not proud of moments when our fights escalated and we would get into a screaming match. Equally so, he hated it when any guy went near me.
What Addy said about love, comfort, and connection doesn’t sound anything like what Cole and I had. It then gets me started on ‘what did we have?’
“You’re quiet,” Addy points out.
“Just thinking about what you said.”
“You and Cole?”
“Yeah.”
“Alexa, you’re young. Don’t settle for a high school boyfriend if it doesn’t feel right.”
I nod, in silence, shifting my gaze to the lights on the horizon.
“We’re broken up. It’s done. I didn’t settle.”
“Despite what everyone else thinks, I think it’s a good idea you’re traveling to find yourself.”
My head tilts toward Addy. “I’m not traveling to find myself. I’m traveling to explore the world.”
“Same thing, Alexa. We explore because we’re searching for something.”
Without even thinking, my mouth opens to correct her, but something stops me, and I keep quiet.
“Mom and Dad will support you no matter what,” Addy continues. “That’s what our parents do. Go explore, do whatever it is you want to do. As for college, it’s next year's problem. Live for the now because tomorrow is not promised.”
A small laugh escapes me. “Ava is right. Every chat with you is like a therapy session.”
Addy shakes her head, then snorts. “If Ava was a client of mine, I’d be sitting on some nice coin if I could bill her. Her trick is to call me and start the conversation with, ‘I have a friend’. The friend is always her.”
I continue to laugh, knowing Ava too well. “That’s Ava for you.”