I grip her arms, my heart pounding. “It has to be! Don’t you see?”
Lex’s face is a neutral mask. “Are you... are yousure?”
I get up and pace the room. “I nearly ripped the poor guy’s penis off on the first date—I knew him for all of one hour before the curse tried to maim him. And then at the waterslides my top flew off, and I had toilet paper stuck to my foot, and I choked on that corn dog, remember? And we weren’t even on a date! It has to be him, Lex.”
Lex places her elbows on her knees and clasps her hands.
“It makes so much sense,” I say to myself more than to her. “He’s literally the Perfect Guy. That’s what I thought when I met him. He’s tall and handsome and kind and good with kids and has a great job and—oh my god, there’s no way he’ll go out with me again.” I sit next to Lex and wrap my hands around hers, forcing her to look me in the eyes. “Lex, you have to convince him to give me a second chance.”
“What!” Lex pushes my hands away, leaning back against the sofa to get some distance between us.
I scooch so close to her I’m practically on her lap. “Come on! Please?”
“What about Cowboy Guy? Or Vegan Guy? Or, or...”
“It’s Olsen, Lex.” I’m sure of it. It’s like something has settled in the base of my stomach. For the first time in forever I can see a future that isn’t me dying alone surrounded by gingivitis-riddled geriatric dogs.
Lex shakes her head. “But that would be so... so...”
I tilt my head. “Awkward?”
Lex’s eyes widen slightly, then close as she takes a slow breath. “Fuck.”
“Fuck, indeed.”
Lex pushes away from me and walks across the room, crossing her arms. I give her time to process, but several long moments after she doesn’t say anything, I start to panic, watching the possibility of my happily ever after begin to slide away.
I sit on the edge of the couch, my heart aching with the thought of getting this close and then giving up. “Lex, please? You have to help me get another date with your brother.”
She eyes me over her shoulder, then looks away.
“We could be sisters-in-law,” I singsong.
She sighs so long and hard I’m thoroughly impressed by her lung capacity. Finally, she throws up her hands. “Fine. Fine! I’ll set you up with him again.”
“Yes!” I jump off the couch and glom onto Lex, squeezing her tightly.
After a moment’s hesitation she hugs me back, softening into my embrace for a moment before pulling away and looking me in the eye. “But, Aubrey?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to break his dick. I really want to be an aunt one day.”
I release the hug and offer her my pinky finger. “Promise.”
“Really?” Lex eyes me. “A pinky swear? About my brother’sgenitals?”
I hoist my pinky even higher. “Really, really.”
Despite the juvenility of the gesture, Lex takes my pinky in hers with all the seriousness the moment deserves. I’m absolutely brimming with excitement and ready to get started on this next chapter of my life, but the look in Lex’s eyes suggests she’s feeling otherwise. I suppose I can understand; hooking up your best friend with your brother must be awkward as fuck—which is why this is going to work. I can feel it.
chapter sixteen
Are ThoseFeelings?
Convincing Olsen to go on another date with me after the hell I put him through the first time is no easy feat. The best Lex could arrange is a casual get-together with friends—a group outing, where he just so happens to be along with several other people. No pressure, no forced conversation. Maybe that will trick the curse into leaving me alone and giving Olsen the chance to get to know me a bit better.
A girl can dream.
