Rivals Redemption

chapter 19 : Normal life

Tina Diaz

After everything that had happened, it was strange to slip back into normal life. It felt like waking up from a storm to find the sky had cleared, but the memory of the chaos still lingered. So, when Grace, Lemi, Sevia, and I finally managed to get together, it was like breathing a sigh of relief. We hadn’t all been in the same room for a while—between internships, careers, and, well, everything else—so tonight felt like a long-overdue catch-up.

We met at our favorite spot, a small café tucked away in the heart of the city. The dim lighting and soft music made it the perfect place to spill the latest updates. Grace arrived first, looking effortlessly chic in a tailored blazer, no doubt fresh from a meeting. Sevia followed close behind, with her usual easygoing smile, wearing a casual but perfectly styled outfit—probably because her latest design was featured somewhere. Lemi came in last, carrying an oversized bag, looking every bit the fashionable designer she was.

“So, Tina,” Lemi started, dropping into her seat and shooting me a grin, “I heard you’ve been playing assistant to a NASA project. What, law not enough for you anymore?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “Just helping out where I can. You know how it is.”

Grace leaned in, her interest piqued. “And Rowan’s project, right? You two spending a lot of time together?”

There it was. The question they’d all been dying to ask, even if they hadn’t said it out loud. I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, it’s work. He needed some help, and I was available.”

“Work, huh?” Sevia said with a smirk, crossing her arms. “So that’s what we’re calling it now?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Look, Rowan and I—things are… good. Better than good. We’re not enemies anymore, that’s for sure.”

Lemi arched a brow. “Not enemies, huh? Is that code for something else?”

I could feel my face heat up. “We’re figuring things out.”

The girls all exchanged knowing looks, but before they could press further, Lemi jumped in with her own update. “Well, while Tina’s solving NASA’s problems, I’ve been busy with my own little fashion empire. And, by the way, Aiden’s been helping me with some coding for my website. Did you know he’s like, a genius?”

Grace smirked. “I mean, he’s studying computer science for a reason.”

Lemi’s face softened as she talked about him. “He’s so great, honestly. I didn’t expect us to click the way we did, but now… I can’t imagine things without him. He’s got this quiet confidence, and he’s always supporting me.”

“That’s sweet,” Grace said, her tone genuine. “I’m glad it’s working out for you two.”

“And speaking of relationships,” I said, turning the tables on Grace, “how are things with Nash?”

She smiled, that soft, knowing smile. “He’s good. We’re good. It’s easy, you know? Being with him feels like… home.”

Sevia nodded. “You two have always had that connection. Since we were kids, it was obvious.”

Grace laughed lightly. “Yeah, well, it helps that we’ve known each other forever. But he’s really focusing on his music now. It’s inspiring, honestly, watching him chase his dream.”

“And what about you, Sevia?” Lemi asked, turning to our last friend. “You and Louis still going strong?”

Sevia grinned. “Stronger than ever. He’s been so supportive, especially with my new interior design projects. It’s nice, having someone who gets you, you know?”

Sevia smiled softly, a light flush on her cheeks. “He’s been busy with dental school, but we make time for each other and I just love how we understand each other.”

“That’s adorable,” Lemi said, rolling her eyes playfully. “We’re all just a bunch of lovesick puppies, aren’t we?”

I listened to their stories, feeling a warmth spread through me. These were the girls who had been with me through thick and thin, and now, we were all carving out our own lives, our own loves. It was nice to sit here, gossiping like old times, even if everything had changed. But maybe change wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

As the night wore on, we talked about everything—work, relationships, life. But underneath it all, I realized how lucky I was to have these women in my life. No matter where we went or what we did, we always found our way back to each other.