We all took a step back and exchanged silly grins.

“Yeah, I just got in from Hong Kong,” I finally answered Shane’s question. I turned to Alice, and added, “But I don’t know, exactly, how long I’ll be here. Depends on how long it takes to sort out something that Chris … um … left behind.”

Their sympathetic smiles and Alice’ gentle rubbing on my arm inspired a fresh set of tears to spring to my eyes.

I swallowed drily, and continued, “But at least a week, I think.”

“Where’ll you be staying?” Shane asked. She cut herself off when the carousel behind me started moving, and the bags of the plane I’d been in began rumbling out.

“Would you mind hanging onto this for a second?” I asked as I made to move towards the carousel. I’d spied my LV-stamped luggage rolling out, slowly making their way around the corner.

“No problem,” Shane said, and then took hold of my roller bag.

I pulled my two luggage pieces out, dropping them into the cart I’d reserved for myself.

I negotiated my way back to Shane and Alice and gave them a quick smile. As I slung the roller bag on top of the other luggage I answered Shane, “Over at the Ritz in Marina Del Ray.”

“Nice,” Alice said, waggling her eyebrows.

I laughed lightly.

“Bit of traffic between there and WeHo, though,” Shane observed, frowning a little.

I gave her a rueful smile. “I’ll have a car, and now that we’ve run into each other I plan to drive over and see you girls often.”

Alice thwacked Shane’s shoulder again. “Don’t mind her, Aerin. That place should be awesome. But, yes! I hope you do drive over to our side of town often while you’re here.”

I smiled at Alice as Shane playfully rubbed the shoulder that Alice had spanked.

“In fact,” Alice continued, “if you can, I hope you can make it to Hit, Helena’s and Kit’s bar in WeHo, a couple of nights from now? I’ve put together this girl band and we’re playing a couple of sets over there on Saturday night.”

I nodded my head vigorously. “Yeah, of course! Of course!”

I shook my head in wonder. “Wow! You have a band, huh?”