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Elodie and I find an empty corner booth in the back that hasn’t been bussed. We scoot in from opposite sides and smash our arms together. She orders the punch from a server who clears the table, and I order an IPA.
“So, when did this start?” she asks, jumping straight back into my sexuality crisis.
“Right after the DUI,” I admit without telling her it didn’t exactly start off sweet.
“So, was the woman he was with the other night not his girlfriend? Because they were sure acting like a couple.”
“No, that’s his real girlfriend.”
She cocks a brow. “How many hickeys you got there?”
I raise my shoulder in a weak attempt to hide my neck from her scrutiny. “I think they’re on a break or something.”
Elodie giggles. “You think?”
“Back to my original point. Maybe there’s a way we can work something out. We just need to be discreet.”
“Should I have a chat with my doorman? The day weekend guy is kinda cute. He’s not Drew level hot, but…”
“El, I’m being serious. I get what we have to do here, but we don’t have to be miserable. I’m sorry we have no chemistry, I truly am,” It’d be so much fucking easier if we did. “But if anybody can think our way out of this box, it’s us.”
“I hate to have to bring this up again, but how do you know you can trust him?”
All I can do is shrug.
She shakes her head. “Not good enough. I’m involved in this, too. And I’m assuming you don’t want to get the lawyers involved? Draw up an NDA or something?”
“Fuck, no. My parents can’t know about this.” Just the thought of my mother finding out gives me chest pain.
“But I mean, this isn’t serious. Right?”
“No,” I say too quickly.
“Then if he doesn’t talk, and it’s just a one-off, why would your parents find out?”
I say as casually as possible, “I just mean if I want to keep seeing him…”
She studies me for a long moment, one rich fuck-up to another. I feel too seen. “You like him.”
“Obviously,” I say, going for a dismissive tone.
She covers another laugh with her hand. “The beanie, though…”
“Fuck. Off. Jesus.”
“I’m sorry. Is this the first time you’ve done anything with a guy? I feel like I would have heard if you played for both teams before now.”
“It’s the first time,” I confirm.
She nods, like she totally gets it. “Cock’s pretty great, huh?”
“I hate you.”
“Just when I’m starting not to hate you? That’s such a shame.”
“It’s both of our first times,” I blurt. “That might be one of the reasons I trust him.”
“Whoa. What?”
