Page 33 of Not So Very Sensible

“Call me?” Katie begged Jason.

“Every day,” he promised.

“Oh my gosh,” Ellie muttered as she dragged Katie down the hall. Could the guy be any sleazier?

“Stop it.” Katie pulled away. “Why do you have to spoil everything?”

“Because men like him want to spoil women like you.”

“You’re crazy. So judgemental.”

“I’d rather be judgemental and have you kept safe than be stupid and let you get hurt.”

Katie stalked away before pausing, hands fisted on her hips. “I can’t believe you sometimes. What are you doing with him here, anyway?” Katie gestured to Ethan.

“If by ‘him’ you mean Ethan, well, he was with me and concerned for you too.”

“And what were you two doing?” Katie snarled.

“Nothing like you and Jason were doing.”

“Of course you weren’t. You don’t even know what it’s like to like someone like that.”

Ellie refused to look at Ethan. Oh, she had something of an idea.

“Oh my goodness, Ellie.” Katie sighed. “I really think Jason is the one.”

“The one what? The one trying to have his way with you? Yeah, I’d believe that.”

Katie muttered something. “Why do you have to be so negative? No, I mean the one. The man for me. My one true love.”

“You know you’re not living in a Disney movie, right?”

“You’re so lame.”

“No, I’m not the one who believes that fairy tales come true. It’s not real.”

“Romance is real,” Katie snapped.

“Yeah, real hormones, mixed with emotions, shaped by societal expectations and often fuelled by alcohol or a lack of sleep.”

Katie snorted. “You’re being crazy.” She peered at Ethan. “Don’t you think that’s crazy talk?”

He shrugged, glanced at Ellie, offered a smile. “I can see your point.”

“Of course you can.” Katie’s eye roll could probably be seen from space. “Ellie, why don’t you believe in romance?”

This was so not a discussion she wanted to have in front of Ethan. “Right now, we’re talking about you and your actions with Jason. You can’t trust a man you’ve only just met.”

“You mean you can, but I can’t.”

Ellie swallowed a sigh. “I just don’t trust him. He’s a lot older than you, and—”

“You’re being ridiculous. He’ll show you.”

“When he calls you every day? Yeah, I’d like to see that.”

“Well, you will. Just you wait.”