_Deployment is taking forever, we’ve been keeping busy with getting Katie ready for the babies and getting to know Emma but the nights are long. It’s time to get out of our own heads and have a girl’s day.

“Avery! Get dressed, we’re going out.”

“Uh… where are we going?”

“We’re going to grab Katie and Emma and have a girl’s day. Pedi’s and mimosas all around!”

Avery gets dressed, and we walk down to Katie’s place. Walking in, we don’t knock, we basically live here.

“Katie!” I holler up the stairs.

“Jesus, Amber! Scare me to death!” she yells over the half wall. “What do you want?”

“Get some pants on, we’re having a girls day. You’re driving.”

She’s not nearly as annoyed now, give preggo food, and you can get her to do just about anything.

“Down in five!”

Walking to the kitchen, I grab a mug to make myself a cup of coffee. I’m sipping on the nectar of the gods when Avery comes in. “Where’s mine?”

Holding out my cup to her, she takes it and glares at me while she takes a sip. Once the caffeine hits her tongue, the glare disappears. Laughing at her, I kiss her forehead before digging into the fridge for food.

“You two are worse than teenage boys,” Katie says from behind me.

“And how would you know what teenage boys are like?” Avery asks with a smirk and raised eyebrow, both hands still wrapped around the mug.

“It’s an expression, everyone knows teenage boys eat everything they can get their hands on.”

“We don’t typically stink though, we shower every day. Plus, we’re cute,” I say over the refrigerator door.

With a few slices of sandwich meat and cheddar cheese, I head to Avery to steal my coffee back.

“Hey, biznatch! Give that back!”

“Mine.” As she reaches for the cup, I shove cheese and turkey into her mouth, effectively shutting her up.

“Okay, let's go. I need a pedi,” Katie announces while heading toward the front door.

I chug the rest of the coffee and put my cup in the sink before following her, Avery grumbles behind me.

We get to The Mission and grab Emma. Leaning against the door frame, we see Emma pop out of the hallway.

“Hey hooker, we’re having a girl’s day,” Avery tells her.

Raising an eyebrow, Emma looks at Jimmy. He shrugs, and she disappears down the hallway. When she reemerges, she’s dressed, and we head back outside.

“Bring her back in one piece,” he shouts behind us.

I respond with a devilish grin, “We make no promises.”

I can’t help but laugh as we go to the car.

We head to the Sandbar for brunch and mimosas, gotta get started early on the buzz.

“Okay, Emma. Today is the day that you learn how to be a California Girl. Pedicures, coffee, day drinking, and girl talk.”

“Well, okay then. But you know I’m only twenty right?”

Avery and I start laughing, “You’ll also learn the fine art of drink switching.”

Getting to the nail salon, we all pick out polish and sit in the massage chairs, sinking our toes in the hot bubbly water. All four of us groan at the same time.

“This is what I needed,” Katie says, eyes closed.

“I need dick,” Avery pipes in.

“Yeah, you do,” I can't help but agree, we both do.

“How awesome would it be to have a dick? Wearing a strap on is amazing, but actually being born with a penis would be so much better.”

“Avery, stop talking about strap-ons in public!” Katie chastises.

I start to giggle, I can’t image my life without these bitches in it.

Avery turns to me, “What are you laughing at? You love when I wear a strap on, pin you down, and fuck you.”

My cheeks are red, but I won’t let her get the better of me. “Yeah, I really do.”

“Stop it!” Katie snaps.

We all start laughing. Most people assume that guys are the ones that talk about sex all the time, women are just as bad, maybe worse.

We sit back and enjoy the pedicures, making idle chit-chat, not talking about anything.

Once our toes are perfectly painted, we head to destination number two, coffee.

Seeing Emma reminds me of my family and how I grew up. From the outside, everything was picture perfect, but when no one was around, it was angry words and hard fists. My father was always careful to not leave marks where people would see them, but they were always there.

You can see that Emma’s hiding how scared she is behind the mask, behind the snark. She’s a lot stronger than she thinks she is, she’s a fighter, a survivor. I know she’ll be okay even though she doesn’t know it yet. Jimmy will make sure of it, he’s invested now, he won’t be able to walk away and stop caring, neither will I.

Knowing that Jimmy is taking care of Emma helps, much like Avery once she found out what was really going on. Even though she was dealing with her own shit at home, she took on the role of my protector, my safe space. I think she latched onto me as a way of forgetting what was going on in her own house. It wasn’t long after I attached myself to Avery that we met Katie and basically moved into her house. Her home was the oasis Avery and I desperately needed. Her parent’s immediately opened their home and their hearts to us, making us feel as if we had always been a part of the family. They even included us in family pictures and vacations, something our own families didn’t do.

I can tell Amber is sinking into her mind, instead of focusing on our conversation. She’s putting on a good show, but I know her better than this.

Amber and I have been together a long ass time, but we’ve always been the ‘live in the present’ mindset, not talking about the past. I know her parents were douche canoes that abused her, but that’s about it.

“Time out! Amber, bathroom, now.” I don’t wait for a response, just head in that direction.

“Hey, what's wrong?” she says as we reach the door.

“Nothing is wrong with me, what’s up with you?” I hold the door open and wait for her to enter.

Taken aback, she crosses her arms. “Nothing is wrong with me, you’re the one that wanted to talk.”

“Hooker, do you really think I don’t know when something is bothering you? You’re not really here, you’re in your head, and I want to know why.”

“I’m just thinking about Emma.” She shrugs, trying to play it off.

Grabbing her head, I make her look at me.

“Amber, tell me what it is about Emma’s situation that is putting that lost little girl look in your eyes.”

A single tear rolls down her cheek, I kiss her cheek to stop its progress.

“My dad was a high functioning alcoholic. He was never late to work or hungover in the morning, but he was mean when he was home. His friends never suspected anything, he was fine in public, at company picnics, but behind closed doors was different. He hated that I wasn’t a boy, then he hated that I liked girls. He used to try to beat the ‘gay right out of me’ as he would say.”

As hard as my teenage years were, they were nothing like Amber’s. I want to nut punch that fucker to touching my girl in anger. Wrapping my arms around her, I try to shield her from the pain of her past, even though I know it’s useless.

“I’ve been Emma. I’ve looked like her, beaten down and defeated. Scared of the judgmental looks from others, or that someone would find out, making the beatings worse.”

I can taste the hate I have for that man on my tongue as Amber trembles in my arms.

I must have been lost in my rage because the next thing I know, Amber is kissing me. Her lips pressed against mine calms me. I’m not sure if she's trying to comfort herself or me, but it's a desperate kiss; lips, teeth, and tongue all fighting for control.

I let her control my mouth, take out her pain and sadness on me. I will gladly take it if it makes her feel better, I would do anything for her.

Pulling my lips back, I look at her as we both catch our breath.

“I want to fuck you, right here, right now,” I whisper.

“Don’t tease me, bitch. I’m wound up tighter than a spring.”

I chuckle, “Please, let me assist you.”

I back her up against the wall, pushing my hips against hers.

“Take your fucking pants off,” I say against her lips.

Pushing me back, she strips her jeans and panties off. She climbs onto the counter, putting her feet on the edge, leaning back against the mirror.

“Lick me, Avery. Make me cum.”

Bending over, I bury my face into her pussy. It’s been way too fucking long since it was just us, I don’t waste any time. I go for broke, sucking, nibbling, and licking her clit while pumping my fingers in and out of her pussy. She’s soaked, making finding that magic button easy.

“Yes, Avery. Don’t stop baby, please don’t stop.” She whimpers above me, her hips grinding against my mouth.

Her breathing hitches as she cries out, coming against my lips, her back bows, thighs clamped against my head, and her body shudders.

Fuck, that's sexy.

“God, I needed that.”

I giggle, “Yeah, you did. Put your pants back on and let's get back to the girls. I need a fucking drink.”

“What about you?” She eyes me from her spot on the counter.

“You can make up for it later.” I wink at her.