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“Trust me, babe, it’s not. It’s the complete opposite. Anyways, moving on. Ethan is only part of the reason I came down here you know.”
“Oh yeah?” I shake off my lingering unease in anticipation of some good gossip. “Spill then.”
“Oh no. You’re the one with all the tea. What’s up with you and Ryan? You both want to do each other so bad, yet you seem not to be able to. It’s frustrating to watch. I can’t imagine what it must feel like for you guys.”
I give an answer that sums up just about every vague and confusing relationship. “It’s ...complicated.”
“No, I think it’s pretty simple. Look, if you’re worried that Brooke won’t approve of you doing the dirty with Ryan, you’re right, she won’t. So don’t tell her. Sabrina and I both give you our blessing.”
My breath comes out in a shaky sigh. “We sort of, already–”
She screeches, practically bouncing in her chair. “Really! Oh shit. I knew it! Let me guess, it was the day Brooke had the baby? I’m sure you’ve done it tons after, but I will put good money down to bet that he fucked you just before you two arrived.”
“Bonnie! Calm down. Things didn’t go that far. Besides how could you even know that? Aside from his announcement that we arrived together.”
“Oh, it was all over you, babe, not to mention the look of pure joy on Ryan. I mean, he was in higher spirits than Xavier who’d just had a baby.”
“He was just being an ass.”
“He likes you, Stella.”
I scoff “Of course, he likes me. Haven’t we established how much he likes women in general?”
Bonnie cocks her head at me in disbelief. “Sweetheart, I love you, but that’s rich coming from you. Stella, the man works like a horse and he deserves to play just as hard as he wants. And, he’s the male version of you.”
Ryan said the same thing but I don’t see it. Yes, I like to pick my men and kick them out the next day but that doesn’t make us identical. “I thought opposites should attract.”
“Sometimes love doesn’t obey any laws,” she says with a wistful look in her eyes.
“Whoa, speak for yourself. I don’t do love.”
Bonnie only smiles, then stands to take her empty mug to the sink.
“Do me a favor and don’t touch the faucet, babe.” I quickly warn her of the leaking sink.
Bonnie chuckles when she sees the faucet I’ve bound up in rubber bands like some kind of voodoo artifact. Then, she bends to pull the under-sink cupboard open, spotting the bowl I shoved in there catch leaks. “My goodness, even the undersink pipes have joined the drip team.”
“Welcome to my life,” I muse.
“Why is this still leaking? I thought the super had it repaired?”
“Yeah, he had it patched up for the third time. What it needs is a whole unit replacement, but I know that’s unlikely to happen.”
Clucking her tongue, Bonnie grabs an empty bowl and replaces the overflowing one.
“Thanks, babe. It’s a slow drip, nothing that is likely to flood. Besides, I’m going to move soon. I need a bigger place.” I immediately close my eyes in regret, wanting to kick myself for saying that.
Bonnie, of course, doesn’t let it slip. “Stella, why would you need a bigger place? Already this apartment is large enough for two people.”
Guilt eats away at me, and I wonder if it might be best to come clean, too. Bonnie will get why I’ve not mentioned Harriet to anyone. Also, she’s the most secretive person I know and so unlikely to fly off the handle at me.
“Bonnie,” I begin.
“Yeah?”
“I–ah…” I clear my throat and try again. “I have a niece. My sister’s daughter. Her name is Harriet. She’s six.”
Bonnie looks at me like she’s not processing what I’m telling her. “You mean you have a sibling? I thought you were an only child, like me.”
