Can't Stay Away (BBC Sherlock) -2-

27. Can't Escape It

I was thankful for the girls arranging this day out.

We caught up over breakfast. I clued in everyone about helping Amanda out when college came back around for her. Darien and Max were looking to get an apartment together. Madison was still going strong with Gabriella, which was good for her. As for Kendal, well, it was hard to say what she was up to. For all I knew, she could have started a Sherlock fan club on Facebook. Knowing her, it was possible.

Thankfully, nothing about London came up in conversation.

From breakfast we went for a spa day. We started off with massages, which made me enjoy the day even more. I just hoped we didn't go out to a bar or anything later, I probably wouldn't make it there.

When we were all relaxed, we moved on to manicures and pedicures. Darien got both, Kendal and Madi settled for pedicures while Mandy and I got manicures. While the ladies did their work, we ended up talking more.

"So...what's life like with a stepmother?" Kendal asked. She was on the far left of me.

"She's not evil, so that's a plus."

"That didn't really give me much, Rachel."

"It's not as much on my mind since we're so far apart."

"They'll be at your wedding, won't they?"

"Whoa, hold on. Who said I was getting married?"

"Nobody, I was just asking."

"Do you know something that I don't, Ken?"

"Nope. Again, just saying."

"Someone tell me she's lying."

"She isn't," Darien piped. "I'm telling you, Rach, married life is great."

"It can be if you're with your soul mate," Amanda chimed in. "If not, it's Hell." Mandy would know, her parents divorced when she was ten. She never blamed herself for it happening, but she had a hard time dealing with it.

"Well, take your time and find the right guy." Darien shrugged. "I know we're all not getting any younger, but don't rush into something you'll regret."

I swallowed, a particular affair popped into my head. Quickly, I shoved it aside. It doesn't need to be thought about. It's done, it's over with. For the love of God, don't make any of them suspicious. Despite being the closest to me, I hadn't even told Mandy about the affair, or the fact that I was going to have a sibling in less than a year. The baby thing I could tell her easily, the affair...not so much.

"I think the next time you fly down you should take me with you, Rachel," Ken chirped.

I laughed dryly. "Yeah, okay. I'm not going to let you stalk Baker Street. You'd probably faint if you saw him."

"I would not!"

"Yes, you would," everyone said together.

"You'd get arrested probably," I voiced. "But don't worry, I'd bail you out. Then I'd ship you back here."

"So long story short, don't ask to go," Madi told Kendal. Kendal pouted.

"The only person who I'd take is probably Bayley."

"Gee, thanks, Rach. Pick your boyfriend over your best friend," Amanda snorted.

"Hey, I gave you all invitations to the wedding last month, but none of you showed."