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Kara showed Violet and Honor into the living room. She’d turned on the fireplace and opened a bottle of white wine and set out the platter of cheese and crackers. Honor and Violet sat together on the couch as Kara poured them all a glass. She’d taken off her ring before the other ladies had arrived. She wanted to surprise them. Her hand already felt naked without it.
“You’re glowing,” Honor said. “And I know why.”
Violet shushed her. “Don’t be crude.”
“Since when was having awesome sex crude?” Honor asked.
“I have something to share,” Kara said. “You’re the first to know.” She pulled the ring from her jeans pocket and slipped it onto her left hand where it belonged. “Brody asked and I said yes.”
Honor let out a decidedly unlike herself squeal. “I knew it. I saw his search engine was on ring sites. I’m so happy for you.”
“Does this mean you’re staying for good?” Violet asked with a shy smile. “Because I’ve been holding back from getting attached to you.”
Kara smiled back at her. “I understand. But yes, I’m staying for good.”
“I’m glad. Very, very glad,” Violet said.
“Of course she’s staying. This is where she belongs,” Honor said. “Just like the rest of us.”
“There’s a little complication,” Kara said, “that I want to share with you. A complication I need help with.”
“Anything. You know that,” Honor said. “Unless it’s being a surrogate. I’m short. The minute I get pregnant, I’ll expand like a balloon.”
“Oh my God, Honor,” Violet said, laughing. “She doesn’t need a surrogate.”
“No, I don’t.” Kara studied her left hand, taking courage from the ring. “Here’s the thing. The reason I came here wasn’t an ex like I told you. It’s something else. Something scarier. But that’s the story I need to tell. Because if anyone from my past finds out where I am, I will most definitely be killed.”
Violet gasped. “No, that can’t be.”
“It is,” Kara said. “And I can’t tell you the details, but I need you to know so that you understand why I can’t ever have my photograph taken or be part of Brody’s publicity stuff. I can’t go to his games or be seen with him anywhere but here in this town where everyone understands he wants his privacy.”
“What happened to you?” Violet asked.
“I had to choose between doing the right thing for a lot of wronged people or remaining complacent to evil,” Kara said. “I chose doing the right thing, even though it meant giving up the life I knew and, frankly, loved.”
“It’s witness protection, isn’t it?” Honor asked. “I knew it all along. I had a feeling.”
Kara stared at her, amazed. Honor was way too smart for her own good.
“Is it?” Violet whispered.
“I can’t answer you. Please, just leave it be,” Kara said. “But if I’m found, I will be killed.”
“Oh, Kara. Whatever it is, I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this,” Violet said. “You must’ve felt so alone.”
“Yes. Until I found all of you,” Kara said. “And now I’m not.”
Honor’s eyes snapped. Her cheeks blazed red. “Fine. We’ll take care of you. This is no problem. I’ll hire the best security people I can find. I have connections in Hollywood. There are people who know how to keep celebrities hidden. They’ll figure out how to keep you and Brody safe too.”
“Brody thought you’d say that,” Kara said. “Thank you.”
“It’s my job. No need for thanks.” Honor’s voice had grown gruff.
“Let me rephrase. Thank you for being my friend with no questions asked,” Kara said.
“You’re welcome.” Honor sipped from her glass and turned her gaze to the floor, but not before Kara saw tears glisten from her bottom lashes.
“Will you watch his games with me?” Kara said. For the first time, her voice broke. “Because I won’t ever get to go to one.”
“Heck yeah. But maybe I can figure out a way for you to go to one.” Honor crossed over to Kara and grabbed her into a hug. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll get this figured out, okay?”
“Okay,” Kara asked as she relaxed into her tiny friend’s tight embrace.
Violet hugged her next and then they all settled back into their places. Honor poured more wine into their already nearly full glasses.
It was hard to believe that mere months ago, she’d sat in the very same chair for her interview with Brody. This was the thing. Life was like football. Upsets happened, good and bad. Sometimes those upsets led you to the very thing you wished for all along.
Honor held up her glass. “Let’s toast. To Kara and Brody. Best couple ever.”
“To finding where you belong,” Violet said.
“To an upset,” Kara said.
“Upset?” Violet asked.
“Like in football,” Kara said. “Just when you think your game’s over, you score a last-minute touchdown.”
“To last minute touchdowns,” Honor said.
Kara’s new friends blurred as her eyes filled with happy tears. “To the mother of all touchdowns.”
They clinked glasses.
The end.