CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Extract
Extract
About the Publisher
CHAPTER ONE
Pointed west home beckons.
Waits for you like a lover.
NOT TOO MANY hours after getting off an airplane, Cora approached Whiskey Sharpa barbershop, and in the evenings, a bar. The lazily swirling red-and-white candy cane sign out front was illuminated and the interior lights cast a shine against the gold-toned flourish of the shops title on the front glass doors.
Inside, it smelled of sandalwood and amber, two of the more popular scents of the products used in hair and beards. Music played loud enough to feel like an embrace but it didnt drown out the low hum of conversation from the people knotted around the bar area.
Alexsei Petrov, Maybes husband, but also Coras friend, owned and ran the place that had become another home for Cora. He saw her come in and smiled, tipping his chin to where Maybe stood, working at her station. Giving someone a shave by the looks of it.
Three months before, her friends hair had been platinum blonde, but currently the tips were a brilliant teal blue that bled into a wash of purple.
It would have looked absurd on most people, but Maybe managed to make it seem retro and futuristic at the same time when she coupled it with high-waisted gray pinstripe pants and a crisp white button-down shirt.
Rachel stood, her hip resting against the table, a smile on her face reserved for the client who Cora now recognized as Rachels man, Vic, sitting in Maybes chair getting that shave.
The weight of the familiar was lovely and bloomed through her belly. This was another one of her places. Full of her people.
You bitches are still the hottest chicks I know, she said as she approached.
Rachel looked over, her eyes widening in pleasure and recognition. Youre here!
I told you Id come by, Cora said, swallowed up into a hug.
I know but youre here now. Yay! Maybe took over the next hug, smacking a kiss right onto her lips before stepping back.
Laughing, she got hugs from the wild bearded Russians, as Rachel and Maybe referred to their dudes.
Everyone missed you. Not more than us, naturally, but still, Rachel said after Cora had been loved up on by all her friends. Three months is way too long to go without seeing you.
Its nice to be missed. She was pretty sure shed just finished her last extended trip with her mother. Yes, it was travel for work and she liked to go to new places. But these long stints meant she had avoided getting a dog or a cat. It wasnt fair to have to leave them with someone for weeks and weeks. It also meant that aside from one long-distance relationship that had ended two years before, Cora hadnt really seen anyone seriously.
She wanted more roots. And a dog. And maybe someone to go on dates with.
Shed settle for a drink and some food as she hung out with her crew to start.
Wren said she already invited you to dinner, Maybe called out as she began to clean her station up.
She informed me one of their friends is cooking and that thered be cake. So naturally Im in.
Gregorianother wild bearded Russianwas Vic and Alexseis cousin. He also happened to be a hugely successful artist Cora had known for years through the local art scene. He and his wife, Wrenan artist in her own rightlived in a loft space above Whiskey Sharp.
Theres always cake at their place. Its like a little bit of heaven right upstairs, Maybe said.
Its like what I imagine heaven to be, thats for sure, Cora answered.
If theres no cake, how can it be heaven? Rachel said it like a sacred prayer and Cora agreed utterly.
I cant wait to hear all about your time in London but Wren said she wanted to hear it too and so not to visit too much without her. Maybe hooked her arm through Coras. I want to hear it now, so lets get going. Im also hungry.
You know how she gets when shes hungry, Alexsei said with a smirk at the corners of his mouth. Maybe rolled her eyes, but smiled as she did it, so Cora knew she wasnt offended.
And he was right because Maybe was lovely and sweet, but not when she was hungry.
They all headed out and down the sidewalk half a block to the doors leading to the small lobby, where the residents of the lofts had their mailboxes and the elevator.
The scent of garlic and onions swirled around her senses as they got out on the right floor. Gregori and Wrens door was painted bright, shiny red and flew open before they were able to use the doorbell.
Wren, wearing a huge grin, rushed at Cora and hugged her tight. Hi! Come have champagne and eat yummy food while you tell us all how the last three months were.
I can do that. You look fantastic, Cora told her as they headed toward the kitchen area. Marriage agrees with you.
Her friends had come back from an impromptu trip right before Cora had left for London only to announce theyd gotten married along the way. After several years of living together, it had been the right choice for their relationship.
I look exactly the same except for the ring part and the way his mom gives me, and then my belly, a pointed look every time I see her, Wren said.
Welcome to my world, Maybe said. Irena has now taken to telling me about all the baby clothes she saw but didnt buy because she had no grandchildren to wear them. I tried to get her obsessing about Rachels womb, but shes too wily.
Mind your own womb. Youve been with Alexsei longer than Ive been with Vic. Its your time to shine, bitch, Rachel said with a laugh.
Im so messed up. I missed you all so much. Cora hugged each one tightly.
Youre the perfect kind of messed up, Rachel said, linking her arm through Coras.