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Were we really back to that?
“Well, what have you been doing since you haven’t been spending time with Barrett?”
She still hadn’t mentioned the other guy.
“I’ve been here most of the time, and hanging out with friends from work after my shifts.”
I was her friend. We used to share any side friends and only bring people into the circle after careful consideration. Yet, I didn’t have a clue who these friends were. Nor was I invited along for any of these so-called hangouts.
My knee started to click. That couldn’t be normal. The second I slowed my steps I sank back to floor level, but I couldn’t climb anymore. “What friends?”
“I told you about them. Nick, Paul, and Raj.”
Ah, there was the infamous Paul.
“Nope. I would have remembered you mentioning them. Are my legs supposed to hurt this much?”
Maybe I wasn’t eating enough bananas. I remembered reading somewhere that bananas helped with Charlie horses. Or maybe I was eating too much ice cream. Last night I finished a pint of Ben and Jerry’s while using a Snicker’s bar as a spoon—once again falling off my bride-or-die meal plan.
“You have to pace yourself. It takes time to build up stamina.”
I scrunched my nose, not easily seduced by the idea of discipline. “I think my butt’s falling asleep.”
“You don’t have to do everything I do, Rayne. We can do different things.”
Her tone pricked at something tender I hadn’t realized needed protecting. I no longer felt like we were talking about gym equipment.
I grabbed the remainder of my smoothie and sank on the machine. If I wanted to stay on her level I was going to have to hike my ass up there. With a deep breath, I climbed some more. “Tell me about your new friends.”
“They’re just guys from work.”
Sweat rolled directly into my eye and I blinked rapidly. “Do any of these guy friends have something to do with you and Barrett breaking up?” It was like pulling teeth. Pretty soon I was going to have to call in Homeland security and go full-on inquisition.
“We were never dating. You can only break up if you’re in a relationship.”
“Pardon me if I’m wrong, but his penis was in your vagina many, many times, correct?”
“Jesus, Rayne,” she hissed and looked around nervously.
I followed her stare. Who was she looking for? Was he tall? Bald? Tattooed?
“Sex doesn’t mean we were in a relationship.”
“It means you were in something.” If it meant nothing, Elle wouldn’t have felt the need to tell Barrett she wanted to see other people.
“We were just messing around.”
The stench of her bullshit stunned me. I could not believe her pretended nonchalance when I had been there through all the heavy emotional conversations about Barrett being the hottest guy she ever kissed.
Then there were the talks about how much fun she had whenever they hung out. And how she loved going on adventures with him and learning new things. She once told me she liked him so much that he could make nautical knots interesting, and I believed her because Elle had become obsessed with sailing the moment she and Barrett started sleeping together.
I was getting a neck ache from looking up at her but my body was literally giving out on me. “Seriously, you do not do this for thirty minutes. I’m dying.” Nothing was worth this pain. Why climb if it took you nowhere? I sank to the floor again. “Can you just be honest with me, Elle?”
“Sometimes I do less than thirty?—”
“Not about the machine! About you and Barrett. Just tell me the truth.”
She scoffed. “Fine. We broke up. What does it matter what we call it? It’s over.”
