Tara threw one arm around Graci and the other around Corinne. “I missed us. I’m so glad you guys are talking again.” “Please don’t use that nickname. You know I never liked it.” Corinne moved away from Tara’s embrace and went to dig through her enormous purse. “It’s weird.” “But it’s who we are, you, me, and Graci, a subset of our group of friends. Although you’re a little iffy, white-bread Asian.” Graci tugged on one of Tara’s braids. “You always have to bait her?” “Hey! You want your souvenir gift or not, bitch?” Corinne shot back at Tara, and, oh, it felt good to hear her flat, dry voice again after several years of silence. Hanging out together at Tara’s place was a blast from the past. The mess and clutter and even some of the décor reflected Tara’s bedroom in her childhood home. High school memories spilled through the floodgates of Graci’s mind, and her residual animosity toward Corinne washed away. It still hurt a little that Corinne hadn’t kept her reservations about Joey to herself and supported her.
