Page 182 of While You Were Trending

“Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good for both of you.”

“And again,stop sounding like my therapist.” She huffs. “I liked you better when you were the other kind of dick.”

Can’t help but smile at that. “No, you didn’t.”

“Fine, I didn’t,” she grumbles.

“What’s the worst thing that happens? He knows that wedding was a mistake. You ask me, hediddo it to punish you.”

“Would you say that to his face?” she asks.

“I have.”

“Just like that?Hey, dude, serves you right. Having your wedding spectacled all over the internet’s what you get for having a spite wedding?”

Huh.

Almost nailed it.

“Pretty close,” I tell her. “Wish I’d thought ofspite weddingthough. That’s a good one.”

“And you’re still friends?”

“We’re still friends.”

Though maybe not for much longer.

And I’m starting to realize that if he and I can’t talk this out—then maybe we’ve never been as good of friends as I thought we were.

I’d have this conversation for Ginny too, but I’m starting to think she needs it for herself.

Like I need to talk to Alex for myself.

Not just for him.

“Mabel would be that blunt with me for me,” she murmurs.

“What’s it like being friends with someone so terrifying?”

The tension breaks in the car, and she laughs softly. “She’s not terrifying.”

“I check my tires every morning to make sure I didn’t offend her and get them slashed.”

She makes a funnyurpnoise, and then she’s doubled over, wheezing.

My shoulders relax and my worries fade away behind the sound of her joy.

“So shehasslashed a lot of tires,” I say.

“She—threatened to—slash yours,” Ginny says through peals of laughter. “Never—heard her—except for Ten.”

“So…it’s an honor?”

She cracks up all over again.

“What’s with Mabel and your brother?” I ask. “I heard him call herFun Mabelthe day after the wedding, but it was pretty clear he doesn’t think she’s fun.”

“Honestly? I have no idea what started it, but he takes every opportunity to get under her skin when he’s here.”