After a refreshing shower, I slipped into some cotton shorts and an oversized t-shirt that draped off one shoulder. The cool sheets felt luxurious against my skin. Finally, I reached for my phone.

Lyra: Sorry for the wait. I took the bike to work today. It was just too beautiful out.

Tilly: you're fine! did u wanna hang out now that school's over?

Lyra: Absolute! When were you thinking?

Tilly: ummm now?

I sighed, debating whether I should change my clothes again or ask for a later date. I love Tilly, but after such a busy day, I don't know if I have the energy.

Lyra: I don't feel like going out again tonight. Maybe tomorrow?

Tilly: i can come 2 u if u want. we haven't had a sleepover in 4eva!

I chuckled. Tilly wasn't joking. The last time we had a sleepover, we were in high school. My fingers hesitated over the touchscreen. I haven't heard from Eli all day. Maybe I should check on him and see if he needed to talk. Work has been getting to him recently especially with the new manager micromanaging him.

Lyra: Don't you think we're too old for sleepovers?

Tilly: (-_-) one can never be 2 old and hey we're only 23! who are u calling old?!

Lyra: *eyeroll* Come on over. I'll bake some cookies :P

Tilly: have i told u i loved u yet?

Lyra: See you soon <3

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The chocolate chip cookies were almost done and the whole house smelled of chocolate and comfort. Mom drifted into the kitchen as soon as the smell wafted into her office.

"Please tell me these are for me," she teased, giving me a quick peck on the head.

"You can have some if you want," I offered, giving her a water bottle. She gratefully took it and depleted it in a few gulps.

"Have you eaten anything?" She asked as she plopped onto a stool and leaned her elbows on the kitchen island. I nodded her head as I assembled a plate of leftover rotisserie chicken, pasta, and steamed vegetables.

"Is Eli coming over?" Mom inquired, trying to disguise the underlying professional tone. I sensed it immediately but decided not to address it.

"No, he's not. Tilly is," I responded neutrally, wanting the awkwardness to end. Eli hasn't been over to the house in months. For her to ask about him in general was odd already.

She sighed as she stretched her arms above her head and leaned side to side. Carefully, I removed the hot plate out of the microwave and placed it in front of her.

"Oh! Thank you, honey! I've definitely waited way too long to eat."

The oven clock read 8:52 p.m.

"Another hard case?"

Opening the oven door made my face tingle from the heat as I checked the cookies with a toothpick.

"Yeh, thurs dis eww client weh bodorlen..."

"I didn't catch any of that," I murmured as I surgically pulled on the oven mitts to set the tray of cookies on the stove-top.

"Sorry. There's this new client with borderline personality disorder and I'm trying to conceptualize his case and create a treatment plan for him. I'm having a hard time narrowing down his main issues. But enough about me. How was your day?"

"It was fine. Just busy mainly," I shrugged as I placed most of the hot doughy cookies onto a plate and then placed the rest in a Tupperware container for Eli. My phone binged and I crossed the living room to open the door for Tilly.

"Hi, Mrs. Woodson," Tilly greeted as she gingerly stepped into the house as though this was her first time here. She can be outgoing sometimes but she's an introvert like me. The only thing consistently extroverted about her is her wardrobe. I tried categorizing her style but she honestly doesn't have a style because she's sampled every kind. Tonight, she wore a striped black and white maxi skirt, an almost neon pink crop top that revealed an inch of her abdomen, and a tan leather jacket. To top it off, her jet black hair was in a bun held up by plastic chop sticks and her makeup was smokey.

"Wow!" Mom exclaimed, not even trying to hide her surprise.

"There was an open mic downtown so I felt like dressing up," Tilly blushed.

"Did you sing?"

I immediately interjected, "Tilly, you want some cookies?"

Tilly's eyes showed her relief. I grabbed the plate of cookies and bounded up the stairs two at a time with Tilly in tow.