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“She swore me to secrecy, but it’s Kardashian adjacent,” Dina said.

“The influencer-to-reality-TV pipeline is real,” Lisa said. “She’s smart to be thinking ahead. I bet she’ll have a merch drop after the wedding too. Your sister is a good little entrepreneur.”

This observation took Dina aback, but then she considered. “It’s been hard for me to think about her like that,” she said. “She’s always just been Hania. My little sister, the one who didn’t go to law school, who followed her own path. The family screwup. Except I think she might be happier than I am. I know that sounds terrible.”

Lisa’s voice was sympathetic when she responded. “It’s human and normal to ask yourself a few questions when big life events happen. You just split from your husband. Your baby sister just got married. You reconnected with a hot man from your past. Can we take a minute to acknowledge that it’s not just the bride who’s going through something?”

Dina sniffed, wiping her eyes. “Thanks, Lisa. And thanks for not saying ‘I told you so.’”

“I’ve got a skywriter on standby, actually,” her friend said, a smile in her voice. “Why did you really call me?”

She took a deep breath. Her friend knew how to get to the heart of the matter. “Why did I become a lawyer?”

“A question I ask myself daily,” Lisa said.

“I’m serious,” Dina said.

“Same, babe. Why does anyone do anything? I was a nerd who wasn’t good at math or science or tech, and I liked to read. Law was the logical choice. Plus, I wanted to give my parents a reason to brag about me, and I knew I didn’t have the stomach for med school,” Lisa said.

“Do you regret the decision?” Dina asked.

“My beautiful, innocent friend. If it’s taken you this long to regret your career choice, I think you’re doing pretty well,” Lisa said, laughing. “I contemplate quitting several times a week. Don’t tell the boss.”

“What keeps you going?” Dina asked.

Lisa hummed. “The money. I like some of my clients. I really like working with you. And what else would I do?”

“Literally anything,” Dina deadpanned.

Lisa sighed. “Let me walk you through what’s happening right now. You’re having what we in the family drama trenches call ‘anxiety transference.’ Meaning your sister’s anxiety and Arshad’s Arsholeness is being rubbed off on you.”

“Ew,” Dina said.

“Stay with me. You’re a good lawyer. You’re just emotionally exhausted from ‘eldest daughter-ing’ for the past thirty-two years. You don’t want to quit your job. Sure, it sucks sometimes and maybe you dream about running away to Banff and starting over in a small commune in the great Canadian wilderness, but what you really need to remember is that everyone hates their job some or most of the time, but existing in a capitalist system requires the sacrifice of your happiness in exchange for the ability to maintain the lifestyle to which you’ve become accustomed.”

“. . . Banff?” Dina asked. “You want to move to Alberta, Canada’s answer to the question, What would Texas look like with snow?”

“I want to chill at Lake Louise and take selfies all day. Don’t judge me,” Lisa said. “Did you hear the rest of what I said?”

“Capitalism sucks and we’re all trapped in its cogs,” Dina recited dutifully.

“Which is why you should seek joy when you can. Consider a lateral move. Volunteer, expand your work with the legal clinic, pick up a new hobby, make new, hot friends. Speaking of: How’s Lucky?” Lisa asked.

“You mean the same man who said I meant nothing to him?” Dina asked. “Probably planning his wedding to the perfect Aliyah,” Dina said.

“Ohhhhh,” Lisa breathed.

“What?” Dina asked.

“Nothing. I just realized the real reason you called me,” her friend said, sounding amused.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dina said. “Actually, I have to go now.”

“You called because you really wanted to call him,” Lisa said. “You still have his number, right?”

“He probably blocked me years ago,” Dina said.

“Only one way to find out,” Lisa said.