“That’s it?” probed Nina.
“Well... we are friends now. But.”
“You’re stalling more than I do when I’m trying to avoid telling Tomb how much I spent this month on Amazon. Spill your guts. Are you guys hooking up?”
“Oh my God, no.”
“So why are his eyes claiming you?”
“Shh, he’ll hear you.” Lisa elbowed her, dipping her head down further, lowering her voice so only mice three towns over would hear her. “He’s the fling.” She confessed, burning up from the inside.
“What? I can’t hear you.”
Oh my God, Lisa was about to throw her best friend out of a window. It definitely wasn’t perimenopause symptoms that were lighting up Lisa’s cheeks like Christmas tree lights. It was sheer embarrassment.
“The younger fling guy, from years ago. It’s Ryan.”
Lisa was completely unprepared for how fast her closest friend would jump up, eyes as wide as teacups, and in her excitement, she couldn’t stay quiet. “The fling!”
All eyes turned to Lisa, and she wished the earth would open up and swallow her.
“Jesus, Nina, sit your butt down.” She tugged her wrist until she sat again.
“All those things you told me about the young stud. That was Splice? Are you lying?”
“Does this face say I’m lying?” Lisa was sure satellites in deep space could see her red cheeks. She risked a look at Ryan, and he raised an eyebrow inquiringly about the secret huddle.
Nina rose, yanked Lisa up by her forearm, dragging her along. “Excuse us, we have to pee,” she declared, and Lisa groaned but went along with it anyway to get out of there. In the bathroom, Nina checked all the stalls were empty.
“You had a torrid fling with a younger Splice, and you didn’t think to mention it?”
“How could I? I didn’t know my Ryan, I mean, Ryan from then, was the Splice you talked about.”
“I introduced you guys at my renewal!” Nina exclaimed, leaning her butt against the row of sinks.
“Yeah, and it was as awkward as you can imagine.”
“Splice was the fling.” Repeated Nina in a soft tone, and then she smiled, and the smile grew until she was chuckling. “This is unbelievable.”
“I was trying to find a segue into telling you.”
“I fucked Tomb’s buddy a handful of years ago. That’s how you do it.” Nina helped. That’s when she exhaled and planted her butt right next to Nina.
“Is Splice chasing you?”
“Noooo,” Lisa said. “We’re only friends now.”
“I’m going to say this really slowly, Lise, but the way Splice was staring at you, you might not know it yet, but that man is chasing you; like, that man has locked in.”
Because Lisa wasn’t one hundred percent in what she’d claimed, she didn’t reply to Nina.
“Let’s head back; they’ll think we’re doing more than peeing,” she said. At the door leading to the waiting area, she stopped Nina. “Don’t mention anything to him right now, okay?”
“Splice’s eyes are doing enough talking, anyway. I’m gonna enjoy the show.” Lisa gave her another nudge. “You’re so not funny.”
“It’s hilarious. Now I’ve gotta think about all those details you told me and associate them with Splice.Hoo, boy.” She wheezed, and Lisa jabbed her laughing friend again.
As soon as they walked in, she clocked Ryan’s eyes coming her way. Blush City, here she comes.
