Page 49 of Tastes Like Summer

“But you told me about Jonathan.”

“Yeah. So?”

“So you can tell me about this guy but not about the one you made out with?”

I clear my throat. “I never said I made out with him.”

“But you did?”

I sigh. “Yes, of course.”

Rosie laughs once. “Of course?”

“Can we get back to the topic at hand? Or, you know what? Better yet, let’s forget about the whole thing. I’ll just figure this out on my own. Tell me about California. How are things?”

“Oh, abso-fucking-lutely not, sis. Tell me what happened.”

Truthfully, I considered telling my sister off, but I found myself in no position to handle this alone. It was evident I was in new territory. So I did. I told her all about Emi’s crisis, how amazingly Michael handled it. I told her about how the tension had been building since he came over to cook, but even before that. I told her how we ended up making out on a lounge chair by the pool, under the stars, and the amount of unanswered texts he had sent me over the past twenty-four hours, asking to meet, to discuss what had happened.

“Okay, so it’s clear you have some feelings for the guy. And he has feelings for you.”

I sniffled, on the verge of tears. “Maybe.”

“Do you not want to maybe, I don’t know, try?”

A tear runs down my cheek, but I quickly wipe it away. “I don’t want to ruin things. I don’t want to end up hating each other. He’s been… such an amazing friend. And a big support. Losing that…” I shake my head. “I can’t afford it, right now.”

“You know… Asher and I are together, but—and bear with me, because I know it sounds trite—we’re still best friends. And I swear to god it makes for a better relationship, I think. Because no matter what, we’re friends first, which I think adds an entire layer to our relationship that regular relationships don’t have. It’s like… we’re partners first and lovers second. So no matter what’s going on between us, we’re never going to stop being there for each other or stop considering our feelings. So sure, you might be risking a friendship. But also, you might be gaining the best relationship of your life.”

“I just don’t see it working. What’s the point? He lives here; I live back home in Colorado.”

“Then what’s the point of dating the rich guy if you’re in the same situation?”

I take a beat. Think it through. “He’d act as the first pancake, maybe? Just… rip off the Band-Aid for dating in general. I can be honest with him, tell him I’m just looking for fun, and just… hang.”

“When have you ever been the type to have a casual relationship?”

“Maybe that’s the point. I never have been that type of person because I married so young. Because I was so eager to have my own family. Maybe now is my time.” I pause. “You know what? Yes. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to text him and tell him he can ask me out again if he wants. And then, at dinner, I’ll tell him the truth.”

“This is… a horrible fucking mistake, Diana.”

“I don’t think so.” But even as the words leave my mouth, my stomach rolls, filled with doubt.

“You know what I think? I think you’re freaking the fuck out over your feelings for Michael and want to go out on a date with this billionaire dude to distract yourself from it.”

“I think you can fuck right off.”

Rosie gasps, and so do I. I’m not one to curse, and we both know it. But I’m upset and she’s not wrong.

Sigh.

“Dee—”

“Thanks for your advice,” I say, embarrassed by my outburst. “I’m gonna text him now.”

“Dee, I really think that you should reconsider. This sounds like a bad idea.”

I groan, kicking my legs on the couch. A little bit childish, but this whole situation is throwing me off. “You’re the one who suggested I get a special friend at the beginning of summer!”