Maya stood on my porch in... a dress.
She always looked formidable in her training clothes, but in her halter dress, strappy sandals, and her curly hair in a wild afro around her head, she looked like a goddess.
She pushed her oversized sunglasses up on her head and grinned. "Hi, birthday girl."
My mouth opened, and an incredulous sound fell out.
"You ready for our big shopping spree?" she asked, eyes gleaming.
I blinked. "Shopping?"
She nodded. "Yep!"
I shook my head in disbelief. "But... why?"
She laughed. "Do friends need a reason to hang out? Do I need a reason to spoil my friend on her birthday?"
That word—friends—resonated within me like a gong.
As far as I was concerned, I exaggerated earlier for Daniel's benefit.
But hearing Maya call herself my f
