I don’t have to be in the room to know the general vibe of what she said. It’s one of the benefits of being friends for five years and living together for one of those years.
“She didn’t mean to slam it, Cel,” I call out. “The doors are heavy—you know that.”
“You don’t know what I said,” Celeste replies.
I roll my eyes and drag myself out of bed, grabbing my housecoat from the hook on the back of my door. It’s plush and cozy, in a dark maroon that makes me feel like a rich old British man. All I need is a pipe and a deerstalker, and I’d be Sherlock Holmes.
As I head into the living room, Celeste is nestled on the left side of the couch, a mug in one hand and her phone in the other. She’s in her satin yellow pajamas that match her sunflower-patterned black bonnet, her feet propped up on the multicolored ottoman she brought from home. She peers at me from over her glasses with a judgmental stare.
“So, what did you say?” I ask, sulking over to the coffeemaker, relieved to see an already brewed pot.
“Mm,” is all I get from Celeste.
“Celeste.”
Celeste clicks her tongue. “Does it occur to you that if I wanted you to know what I said, I would have said it loud enough so that you could hear it?”
I sigh, pouring the steaming liquid energy into my favorite mug. “I think if it’s about my girlfriend, I have a right to know.”
“I don’t necessarily agree.”
“Cel, come on–”
“It’s nothing, Jude,” Celeste argues, rubbing a hand down her face.
“It sure doesn’tfeellike nothing,” I grumble as I aggressively stir oat milk creamer into my coffee.
Celeste exhales sharply and rests her mug on the end table. “You can do better,” she says. “That’s all.”
I nearly choke on my first sip of coffee. “What?”
“I’m not saying it a third time.”
I wipe my mouth and settle into the armchair across from our small television. “But, I mean, what are you talking about? You thinkIcan do better thanher?Nikki Barnes? Are you insane, or are you blind?”
“Neither,” Celeste replies, folding her hands across her lap. “In fact, I’m intuitive as hell. And my intuition is telling me that you deserve better than her.”
I stare at her incredulously. “Your intuition is off on this one, Cel,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m the one who’s way out of my league with her. Like, I know you’re not into girls, but I am, and let me assure you—Nikki is ridiculously hot.”
“Of course she’s hot,” Celeste says, exasperated. “I may be straight, but no one’sthatstraight. I’m just saying, looks are far from everything.”
“She’s also super smart, goal-oriented?—”
“A pretentious know-it-all,” Celeste interjects.
“—she’s athletic, fit, and strong?—”
“A bit too into herself, if you ask me.”
“—and she likes me for me?—”
Celeste purses her lips and twists her features questionably. “Mmm…”
“She does!”
“Look, I’m not saying she doesn’t like you,” Celeste clarifies. “I know she wouldn’t be coming here if she didn’t. And, yes, she’s obviously sexy and smart and all that. I’m just saying that something about her rubs me the wrong way. That’s all.”
I sigh. “Is this because she hasn’t had time to hang out with you and Max yet?”
