As if he was right instead of Elisa.
“Sure.” Her friend nodded slowly. “After all, it’s just marriage. Family. A teenager’s life. No biggie.”
Ouch. “That’s not fair.” Zoey’s chest heated beneath her dress. “We did what we had to do because it’s such a biggie.”
“Right. Because youwantedto do it.”
She pursed her lips. “That’s not helpful.”
“Not helpful because it’s true?”
Zoey started to argue, then hesitated, heart thudding. “Maybe it’s true for me.”
“Aha!” Elisa pointed, triumphant.
“Alittletrue. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s not true for Linc, and no way am I going to mess all this up by being like ‘oh by the way, I like-like you.’” Zoey rolled her eyes. “It’d ruin everything.”
Elisa smirked. “Yes, falling for your husband would be tragic.”
“You don’t understand. You have a fairy tale going on with Noah.”
Her friend’s smile faded.
Oops. She wasn’t being very sunny right now. “Which is great for you, and this is great for me.” Zoey rushed ahead. “Everything is great exactly as it is.”
She really needed to stop using the wordgreat.
Zoey thought through her next words before speaking. “Linc and I have a plan that works for us and is good for Amelia.” There. She smiled, channeling all things cheery. Silver linings.
Puppies and rainbows.
Elisa nodded. “I see. A plan that makes sure no one gets hurt.”
Finally, Elisa was getting it. “Exactly.”
“Ha!” Elisa smacked the countertop with her hand. Zoey jumped. “That was a trap. Of course someone is going to get hurt.”
Panic knocked. But Zoey refused to answer. Sunshine, puppies, rainbows…“Don’t be silly. We’re all adults here.”
“Right. Adults with flesh-and-blood hearts.”
“Actually, Linc’s might be tin.”
“You’re playing with fire.” Elisa winced. “Sorry. Poor word choice.”
Zoey glared. “Why do people keep doing that?”
“You know what I mean. Someone is going to catch feelings—or from the sound of it, catch more of them than they already have.” She widened her eyes pointedly at Zoey.
“I appreciate the concern.” Zoey held up both hands. Dunkin’ donuts, there was that ring again. She averted her eyes from it. “But Linc and I are best friends, we’ll figure it out. This is ultimately about Amelia. Him and Amelia.”
“Sure.” Elisa’s voice softened. “But you matter too.”
“This feels like the moment in a movie right before the characters break into song.”
“Funny.”
“Just do me a favor. Don’t tell anyone else in our group?” Zoey cringed. “This is complicated enough without having to keep up with who knows what.”
