That made me smile. A real smile. “No, I actually like that. A lot.”
Cassie leaned back in the seat with a grin. “Well, maybe you should get together with your best friend’s brother you’re living with?”
“Ha.”
“I’m serious. Maybe it is just me, but a minute ago when you just talked about him… sounds like there is a bit of history there. Forgive me if I’m wrong.”
Was I that obvious? “That would open up a whole other can of drama.”
“Sure, but, come on. That would be a great story.”
As the car slowed in front of my building, I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and reached inside for my wallet.
“I can send you my half over an app or?—”
She waved me off. “Nah, don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks. Really.”
Cassie turned slightly in her seat, her voice softer now. “Thanks for listening to me rant and saving me from that dude. If you hadn’t walked in, I probably would’ve made excuses for him all night.”
“Anytime,” I said sincerely.
“Well, maybe I’ll see you around, Brielle. And if not, definitely let me know if I make the cut in next week’s edition,” she said with a wink. “This ride was better than half the real dates I’ve had in years.”
“Honestly?” I smiled. “Same here.”
She opened her door, the cold rushing in again. “Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays,” I said, stepping out into the night.
thirteen
I breathed in the warm,lavender-scented steam. It curled up around my cheeks, fogging the edges of my thoughts like I was slowly, willingly cooking myself alive.
From the doorway, Gina let out a low whistle. “Oh my God. This looks like it was a bad one.”
I didn’t even lift my head. “I’m not sure if I’m still on the date or if this is the afterlife.”
“Definitely the afterlife.”
“Really?”
“I brought more cheap wine.”
My lips curled up at the corners. “Heaven.”
It didn’t take long before Gina moved into full recovery mode—hair up, sleeves rolled, refilling the tub I was lounging in with more hot water, like she was tending a cauldron. She placed a glass of cheap rosé on the ledge next to me and plopped herself down on the floor beside the tub with her own feet kicked up on the closed lid of the toilet.
It was, objectively, the best bath I’d had in ages. And yet, even with the lavender bubbles and the gentle flicker of the emergency candle she insisted we light instead of turning on the fluorescent overhead, it just wasn’t the right mood.
I couldn’t shake the sticky nausea that still clung to me from earlier.
“He took a sip of my drink,” I muttered, head falling dramatically into my hands after I recounted the dive situation.
Gina blinked. “Wait, what?”
“Before I took a sip.”
