I grinned and squeezed her tightly. "I can imagine."

Naimh made a face. "But then I started feeling really, REALLY bad. I mean, I had to stop, get ahold of myself, and call Alice to tell her the news."

I winced. "How'd that go?"

Naimh's expression was regretful but not upset.

“She said she was happy for me and knew that me joining you at Berkeley was what I'd always wanted. And while it would've been nice to go off to college with one of the BTC, Lucia and Seo-yeon are both going to UCLA, so it's not like she won't know anybody else there.”

“That IS something," Sam agreed.

I sighed and held Naimh close. "You had us worried for a bit when you didn't show up on time. I started wondering if you'd gotten into a car accident or something."

“Sorry it took so long.” Naimh shook her head and gestured to her face.

“After crying in the kitchen I had to re-do my makeup."

That got all three of us to Laugh. Sam held the back of Naimh‘s head, and the back of mine, and she pulled us together so that our three foreheads came together like a tripod.

“Holy shit, I can't believe there's four of us going to Berkeley now. Belle’s gonna be super excited."

Naimh popped her head up and winced.

“I really hope so. She hasn't been jealous about you coming to Berkeley, has she?" Naimh asked Sam.

The blonde shook her head. "No, she's been a model student about it.

She keeps reminding both of us that having me be Matty's official girlfriend would keep all the greedy bitches from stealing him away from her at Berkeley. She knows I'll share."

Naimh's electric green eyes flashed momentarily. "And will that still be the plan? You as Matty's official girlfriend at Berkeley?"

Sam sensed the slight shift in tone and stood up a little straighter, and in a quietly serious voice she stated, “We can both be Matty's official girlfriends. Two of us for sure would keep greedy bitches away."

“Would you be jealous about sharing him with me?" Naimh asked hesitantly.

Sam shook her head slowly, looking hurt.

“How could you even doubt me?"

“I'm sorry. It's just..." Naimh abruptly let go of us and turned to walk further into the house. Sam and I briefly glanced at each other and followed. I think Naimh originally meant to only pace a few steps away before turning back, but when she saw us behind her, she continued on just a Little further until reaching the formal living room sofa and sat down.

Sam sat down next to her while I took a wing chair.

“I'm sorry," Naimh repeated, reaching over and holding Sam's hands. "I know this is really sudden and the three of you have been all excited planning your big Berkeley adventure together for more than a month now.”

“You're more than welcome to join us in getting a place together, if you want," Sam said quickly.

“I mean, I don't know what your parents would think about getting an apartment or maybe a house with us or if they want you in the dorms. I mean, you told me they've barely tolerated you seeing Matty with the idea that you'd be going to UCLA come fall. This, obviously, would change that equation a bit."