Who else feels hung over this morning? And I don’t necessarily mean because you were out–or in–drinking last night. This election season has been an emotional rollercoaster. Today, this is a politic free zone. I’ve no clue at the time I’m typing this (yesterday afternoon) of who won. Gonna leave it that way. Instead, I’m going to introduce two new characters who will appear at some point in the future. These two women are part of a tight-knit group of friends in Chicago. And yes, they will run afoul of some Chicago Wolves when I get around to MOONSTRUCK MAFIA: CHICAGO. Yeah, yeah. Totally original title, right? 🙄 Good news is, I brought home an Honorable Mention in last week’s Thursday Threads challenge and here’s the prompt: *“It doesn’t matter how.”*

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Regina “Reggie” Jackson stared, incredulous. “You let him walk away? What is wrong with you, Gwyneth Campbell?”

Gwen flinched at her best friend’s use of her formal name. She wasn’t strong and brash like Reggie. As an investigative reporter, Reggie was always up in somebody’s business. Not her. She dealt with kids and their parents and as the doctor, she was a caretaker. She’d be the first to admit she had a soft heart. And Dante Caruso had stomped all over it. She toyed with the food on her plate and lifted one shoulder in a half-hearted attempt at nonchalance. “It doesn’t matter.”

“How can you say that?” Anger sparked off Reggie like a sparkler on the 4th of July.

“Because it doesn’t, Reg. I’m not the sort of girl he’s looking for.”

“Not the sort—” Reggie broke off her sentence with a snort of disgust. “You are beautiful and smart and sweet and kind and the man is an utter moron if he doesn’t want that in a woman.”

Gwen let out a soft breath and mumbled, “He wants someone like you.”

A burst of laughter escaped before Reggie could contain it. She reached over and laid her hand on Gwen’s forearm. “I’m sorry, hon. I am so not laughing at you. I’m…” She blinked. “What’s another word for gosmacked? Flabbergasted. No…appalled. That’s the word. I am appalled by the man’s gall.”

A smile twitched the corners of Gwen’s mouth. “Thank you.”

“That’s what friends are for.”
****

There you have it. I think I’ll enjoy getting to know these ladies when the time comes. And no, I have no clue which group will be the most vocal when it comes time. I have two fairly quick projects to take me through the end of the year and then I’ll start something new come the new year. In the meantime, let’s look on the bright side. Writers, write. Readers read. And what’s your favorite saying about friends?