“The only feeling I have for him is fear of having feelings for him. Not actual feelings.”
“You fear having feelings for him, but you don’t have feelings for him?” Charlie asked.
“Exactly,” I replied.
“Or you’re afraid, because youdohave feelings for him,” she said.
I blinked at Charlie, and then looked at Sarah, who gave me a small knowing nod. I didn’t like or want small knowing nods right now.
“You have feelings for him!” Sarah reiterated. “And then you went and had sex with him.”
“How could she not have had sex with him, though?” Charlie said, just as Frank came back into the room.
“Are you still talking about him?” He looked Charlie up and down and then walked out the room again.
“What the hell is going on with you guys?” Sarah asked, and Charlie shrugged.
“Guys, I’ve got to go on a date now with a really, really nice, sexy, hot guy. Who’s kind and thoughtful and cared enough to check my snake bite in the airport. Who’s family orientated and supports his brother-in-law’s restaurant and does fucking charity work! He saves sick children’s lives. In Africa. He’s the guy I want to have feelings for! And right now, I’m almost running late for my date. I love you guys. Bye!”
I walked out of my bedroom and found Frank on the couch, still with Petal.
“Thanks for coming round and babysitting,” I said to him. “And by the way, you and Charlie need to stop fighting, you should go in there right now and hug it out or something.”
“I second that,” Sarah said, walking past. “Hug it out!”
“Who’s hugging?” Charlie asked, walking out of my room now too.
“You guys are hugging. You and Frank. You guys need to hug it the fuck out!” Sarah announced loudly. “Come on. Come, come. No more fighting. Make love not war and all that.”
I was about to exit the front door when something about Sarah’s statement made me turn round and watch the scene playing out in my living room.
“I’m not hugging him until he apologizes to me,” Charlie said.
“Apologize for what?” Frank was on his feet now, walking towards her.
“Enough! You’re friends. You’ve been friends for twelve years. Stop this stupid bickering and hug. I insist. Come . . .” Sarah started pushing them towards each other, and as she did, something in the room changed.
“Go on—don’t be shy.” She practically smashed them into each other, giving them no other choice but to hug each other, but the second they did, something invisible punched me in the gut and my mouth fell open. Sarah whipped round and looked at me, her mouth as wide open as mine. She raised her eyebrows at me and I nodded back. We both turned our attention back to Charlie and Frank. They were still hugging. And there was a seriously non-friendly energy emanating from it.
Sarah turned back to me, her mouth still gaping in shock. “We’ll talk about this later,” she mouthed, and I nodded at her vigorously before leaving my apartment with a massive smile on my face.
When I arrived, Sibu was already sitting waiting for me. He hadn’t seen me, so I took a moment to look at him. He really was gorgeous and I really wanted to like him as much as I knew I should like him. He finally saw me, stood up and waved.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thanks, had my hair done.” I touched my new hair, which I’d put some highlights in this week because I’d needed a distraction from thinking about Max one afternoon, and doing something with my hair had seemed like a good idea.
“It suits you, the lighter color. Brings out your eyes. And I love the cut.”
“Not even a minute into the date and so many compliments already,” I teased, and then was surprised to see him pull the chair out for me.
“Thank you.” I sat down and watched him walk to the other side of the table and sit. “You’re not looking too bad yourself,” I said.
“Thank you. I’m feeling better too. Last time we were . . . Well, I wasn’t in a great place. But I’ve been going to therapy, really working through some things, and can honestly say I’ve never felt better.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. I’m happy for you.”
“I hope you don’t mind—I’m not on call today and actually don’t have work tomorrow either, which is a miracle, so I took the liberty of ordering champagne. I couldn’t remember if you liked it.”
