“Uh yes, you can. Here one second, let me grab my phone.” I reach for my pocket, and realize that it’s not in there. My brows furrow as I try to think where I put my phone. I check my other pockets, then half mindedly hold my boobs to check if I put it in my bra at some point. Nope. Not there either. I reach to grab my purse next.
“If you’re looking for your bag, it’s right here.” Evie passes me my bag. She’s clearly been holding it the whole time. I grab it from her and find my phone. Thank God. I unlock the screen and open my contacts before I pass it over to him to fill out his information.
A second later I see his phone vibrate on the bar top. “You know, to make sure I have your number, too." He passes my phone back to me, and I put it back in my bag.
Xavier gives me a wink as he says good night, and I give a little wave as Evie drags me out the bar. A small smile forms at my lips as I replay the night, but as the cool air hits my face, Evie spins around and levels me with a stare.
“What?” I ask, feeling the heat prickle across my cheeks and neck. I begin fanning my face in an effort to cool down.
Evie raises an eyebrow at me and waits, challenging me. She plays her cards well. She knows I hate silence. So she just stands there, staring at me, with her arms crossed over her chest.
I survive for one minute before I give in. “Ugh, what! We had a couple drinks and we talked okay?”
Silence.Fuckshe’s good.
“We talked and we got to know each other a bit more. Not only is he easy on the eyes Ev, but he has a hobby farm ofrescuedanimals he’s encountered over the years.” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “RESCUES ANIMALS!” I raise my voice for emphasis. “And then…and thenI do what I do best. I word vomit. I got so anxious and nervous that this man is talking with me—not just through a screen— but is talking tome. In person.So, what do I do? I spew everything that could possibly come to my mind.” I’m now pacing back and forth in front of Evie, who is trying to contain her giggles.
I point in her direction. “Stop it. This isn’t funny!”
“It’s kind of funny though, Harps.” Evie shrugs, unbothered by the amount of words I’ve just said. “When you get drunk off a hot guy, the word vomit is uncontrollable.”
“Yeah well, during my spewing, I let it slip about how Dalton cheated on me with his sister.”
A gasped laugh comes from Evie, as her eyes widen. “Oh Harps. You didn’t.”
“Oh.” I sarcastically laugh, “I sure as fuck did. I let it slip and tried to take the words back. At that point though, he encouraged me to share more.”
“And you went ahead, didn’t you?” Evie is holding back tears from laughter at this point. I’m glad someone is enjoying my misfortunes.
“You know damn well I did!” I exclaim, my hands raking through my hair. “And then you know what he said after all that?” I stop and turn my body to face my best friend, who just rotates her hand in a go on motion. “He says he has a great plan! That we shoulddate! DATE! Not the,” I raise my hands to form air quotes. “Romantic-I’m-interested-in-you way,” I sigh. “He wants to fake-date so his parents get off his back and I can stick it to Dalton.” I snort, remembering how Xavier refused to call Dalton by his actual name.
“This is ridiculous, right? I should text him right now and tell him no.” I reach for my bag and begin searching for my phone. Before I can make any progress there are two palms on each of my shoulders.
“First. Take a breath. You’re panicking. Follow my breathing.” She takes a deep inhale. Lifting my head, I take a deep inhale. Then she slowly blows it out, and I follow suit. We do that a couple more times before she loosens the grip on my shoulders and lets go, taking a step back. “Better?”
I nod.
She returns my nod. “Good. Okay, now secondly. You should do it.”
My mouth drops open. I didn’t hear her correctly. I couldn’t have, because if I did… She just suggested I go through with this whole thing.
“I’m sorry. What?”
Evie huffs out a sigh, rolling her eyes. “Oh please, you heard me babes. You should do it. He’s hot, you’re hot.” I snort and Evie gives me a pointed glare. “Stop it. Don’t act like you aren’t hot.”
“I mean… Sure if you like all this.” I sarcastically say as I run my hands up and down my body, leaning into all my insecurities.
“Don’t talk about my best friend like that. She’s smart, gorgeous and any guy should get on their knees before her. If you were into girls, Iwould totally make you forget all about men.” She ends with a smirk on her lips.
“Oh for fuck’s sake Evie,” I chuckle. Playfully I shove her shoulder, shaking my head. Evie came out as bisexual just after high school. She has no shame about it and will blatantly hit on any man or woman, whether they're straight or not. She doesn’t sleep around. She just likes to flirt. I’ve only seen Evie in one serious relationship, if you could call it that. She distanced herself from me, the longer they were together the less I saw her. Until she showed up on my door in the middle of the night telling me it was over. Part of me wonders if it impacted the way she sees herself when it comes to relationships.
“You know I’m serious, babes! But I digress. What better way to get back at that cheating fucker than to show up at Thanksgiving dinner, unannounced, with Dalton and Chloe at the same table. I wouldloveto be the fly on the wall when that happens.”
“That sounds like a terrible idea.” I laugh.
Evie shrugs. “Eh, maybe.”
I give her a look.
