“First of all, I never kiss and tell.”
“Yes, you do,” said Paige. “That’s literally what we talk about every time we meet for drinks. We are here right now to tell about our kisses.”
Evan sipped his water and sat up a little straighter. “Fine. Then I will say that the whole ‘sex on a third date’ thing is a fiction of the television-industrial complex, and also Darius and I dated and bumped uglies repeatedly several years ago, so it doesn’t count anyway.”
“That means Evan totally slept with Darius,” Lindsay stage-whispered to Paige.
“Yeah, I figured that out.”
“Yes, fine. Darius and I consummated our relationship. And it was pretty great.” He shrugged. “Now you go, Paige.”
“I’m gonna need a martini or six first,” Paige said, raising her hand to try to get the waitress’s attention.
“That sounds promising,” said Lindsay.
“Can I tell her?” Evan said excitedly. “No, you tell her. No, I want to tell her!”
“Knock yourself out, Ev. Here comes Jenny.” Jenny was a regular waitress at Pop.
“Okay, Linds. Brace yourself. Also, cone of silence. What we are about to tell you does not leave this table.”
Lindsay mimed crossing her heart. “I swear.”
Evan let out a little gleeful noise just as the waitress appeared and they all ordered drinks. When the waitress was gone again, Evan said, “Paige is secretly banging Lauren’s brother.”
Lindsay’s eyes went wide. “You… Are you kidding?”
“No.” Paige sighed. “It’s not just banging. Josh and I seem to be casually dating. And Lauren doesn’t know. Don’t say anything. We’re working up to telling her.”
Lindsay shook her head. “This news is amazing. Do I know Josh?”
“Probably not,” said Paige. “He couldn’t make it to Lauren’s wedding, I met him for the first time a few weeks ago.”
Evan nodded. “If I’ve said a dozen words to him in my whole life, I’d be surprised. But he moved to the city about two months ago and then Paige met him by chance, and now they’re inlove.”
“We’re not in love. We’ve been on a couple of dates. Yes, I like him, but it’s very casual right now.”
Lindsay narrowed her eyes at Paige like she was thinking this through. “How old is he?”
“Twenty-eight,” said Paige.
Lindsay pursed her lips. “Okay. Relative maturity level?”
“I don’t know how to evaluate that, but he’s a lawyer and he has his own apartment in one of the big high-rises in downtown Brooklyn.”
“Ah, but does he have a view?” Lindsay smirked. “My friend Rebecca lives in one of those buildings. You can see the Statue of Liberty from her window. It’s amazing.”
“I know you’re joking and the view has no relation to maturity level, but no, he doesn’t have much of a view. His windows face another building, but at an angle so you can’t see into anyone’s windows.”
“Clever.”
“Is Rebecca the one whose kid you babysit?” Evan asked.
“She is, yes. And for the record, I only babysit because that kid is sweet as pie and loves her Auntie Lindsay, so she’s easy to deal with. Mostly, we read books, take naps, and eat Rebecca’s officially sanctioned snacks. So don’t get ideas if you guys decide to have kids.”
Evan shook his head. “I wouldnever.”
“Anyway,” said Paige. “Part of why I like Josh is that he seems to have his life together, and he doesn’t spend all of his time obsessing over obscure indie bands or making cheese at home.”
