Page 28 of See You Next Tuesday

“And what did you say?”

“That I wasn’t. What else should I have said?”

“Anya. Sweet summer child.” Simone pinched the bridge of her nose. “Aren’t you supposed to be the straight one? A man does not ask if you’re interested in him unless he’s interested in you.”

“This one did, believe me.” Anya tried to sound convincing, but her heart was speeding up again, traitorous organ.

“Has he also been staring at you all week because he’s not interested?” Simone prodded. “Has he been totally miserable that you’re angry with him because he’s not interested?”

“Don’t be absurd, he has not been totally miserable.”

“That’s not what Kira says.” Simone took a sip of her drink, glaring at Anya over the glass rim.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter if he’s interested in me,” Anya brushed her off. “Because I’m not interested in him.”

“Sure, that’s why you’re having sexy dreams about him.”

“That is not—”

“Anya!” Simone groaned with frustration. “You’ve spent the last eight months surrounded by homosexuals. You deserve to bang a hot straight! You’re literally sharing a bedroom—”

“A children’s bedroom!”

“—in a mansion on a tropical island! Like! Babygirl, I don’t know what else I can do for you!”

“Beyond trapping us together in a canoe on a bioluminescent bay during a magical rainstorm?” Anya bit back a smile.

“I don’t know why I waste my time,” Simone sniffed, and they both burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny over here?” Gabe asked, his arm looping over Anya’s shoulders as he deposited a shot in front of her. His shirt was still damp from the rain, and the cool fabric sent a chill down her arm.

“We’re not seriously doing this, are we?” Anya gave Gabe a mournful little puppy look.

He rested his elbows on the table and put his face in his palms, which brought his gaze more or less level with hers.

“Anya, I would never ask you to do anything that would make you unhappy,” he said seriously. “Luckily, this shot is going to make you very, very happy.”

Simone shot Anya a look, and Anya sighed good-naturedly and picked up her glass. “Fine. What are we drinking to?”

“To old friends.” Simone lifted her glass and smiled at Gabe and Anya, and then turned to Kira. “And new ones.”

Gabe looked Anya right in the eye. “I’ll drink to that.”

The tequila went down smoother than expected—Gabe and Kira must have bought some nice shots. After another round of drinks, Anya was properly tipsy, and Simone and Kira were making out on the dance floor.

“What do you think?” Anya asked Gabe. “Are they gonna date for real?”

“If Simone wants to,” Gabe said. “I’ve never seen Kira take a girl this seriously.”

“Yeah?” Anya brightened. “Simone likes her so much.”

“That makes sense, because Kira’s the absolute best.”

“Totally.” Anya nodded, the motion making her brain feel sloshy. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Gabe turned to Anya.

“Have you ever taken a girl that seriously?” she asked earnestly, then immediately felt embarrassed. “I’m sorry, that’s such a personal question—forget I asked.”