“You’re basically singing ‘On My Own’ like a teenage girl in a high school talent show now,” said Lauren.
“Was that your update?” Paige asked.
“No, actually. I merely intended to illustrate that since the love of my life is off the market, I have decided to move on. Darius called the other day. We’re going out tomorrow night.”
“Darius?” asked Lauren. “Control-freak Darius? Unceremoniously-dumped-you-the-day-before-he-was-supposed-to-meet-your-parents Darius? That guy?”
“He dumped you right before meeting your parents?” said Paige “That’s cold.”
Evan sighed. “He apologized for that. He has an extra ticket to some Broadway show and wanted me to go.”
“You were the fourteenth person he called,” said Paige. “I’ve been onthatdate before.”
“Well, be that as it may, he says he missed me and wants to make it up to me, and also this show is supposed to be really good. It’s a musical based on some obscure nineteenth-century novel.”
“Sounds thrilling,” said Lauren.
“I hear your tone, but theTimescritic gave it a glowing review, and he doesn’t like anything lately. Besides, what can one date hurt? If Darius is still terrible, at least I get to see a Broadway show for free.”
“Fair,” said Paige.
They talked about musicals for a few minutes and Paige ordered a second martini. When it arrived and Paige took her first sip, Lauren asked, “So, Paige, what happened at Mitch’s volunteer thing the other night?”
And…now it was complicated. Paige hated holding things back from her friend, but she said, “It was good. Not the most active. My partner and I only caught one cat.”
“Still, that’s something. Did I tell you, my brother Josh went, too? Did you run into him?”
Paige’s stomach flopped. “Uh, yeah, we met.”
Paige could see Evan smiling from behind his martini glass as he sipped and glanced at Lauren. Paige kicked him under the table. That just made him grin wider.
“Did something happen?” Lauren asked looking between Evan and Paige.
“No. Evan’s being stupid. I just… I told Evan I thought Josh was cute. But he’s your brother, so it’s off the table.” Paige hoped for a hole to open beneath her to fall through.
“Yeah. How weird would that be?” said Lauren. “Can you even imagine? So gross.”
“It could be like a Chandler and Monica and Ross thing,” said Evan.
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Not everything in life relates back toFriends.”
“You say that, but I just rewatched the whole series, and I’m pretty sure it does,” said Evan. “Or that’s a sign I need to get out more.”
“Probably that,” said Paige. She looked at Lauren. “It would be weird, I guess.”
“Soweird. I mean, he’s…Josh. I doubt he’s a virgin, but I try not to think about him in that context.”
“Right, of course,” said Paige.
“And hejustgot his heart broken. Can you imagine being with someone for almost three years and living with them for one and planning a future together, and then all of a sudden, she’s like, ‘Just kidding, I’m moving to Chicago’? I mean, I know it’s hard to get a job right out of law school, but she thought her career was more important than Josh.” Lauren shook her head. “He was devastated. She really did a number on him. He was planning to propose, and she up and left him.”
Paige didn’t know what to say; she hadn’t known Josh’s previous relationship was that serious. He hadn’t acted heartbroken when they’d been out, but past relationships hadn’t come up much either.
She really didn’t know him well at all, did she? Was she really thinking about pursuing a relationship? Well, no.
Lauren went on, “And, like, if you guys dated and something went wrong with you two? No, let’s not even think about it.”
“Yup. Putting that whole idea away,” said Paige. And she supposed she had her answer. She liked Josh, but it was just one of those things. Not meant to be. Time to move on.
