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“How about we start with what you don’t want?” I suggested.
“That’s a good idea,” Linley said.
The night devolved into making an extremely long list of all the things that Em did not want in a potential girlfriend. This included anyone who enjoyed reading Ayn Rand or played tennis.
“What’s wrong with tennis?” I asked.
“I can’t date someone who likes tennis,” she said, but didn’t elaborate.
“Okay, no tennis is on the list,” Linley said. It was her idea to make an actual list on Em’s phone of said qualities she did not want.
The list got more and more ridiculous as the night wore on until we were extremely tipsy and laughing about literally anything.
At some point the fact that I’d gotten barely any sleep the night before caught up with me and I felt my eyes starting to close.
“Okay, I have to work tomorrow, and so do both of you,” Linley said. “And I have to work a lot earlier than either of you.” She winced when she looked at the clock on her phone.
“You really need to have a talk with your boss,” I said, as she got up and brought her glass into the kitchen.
“I know, but she’s also my mom and she doesn’t listen. If things get serious with Gray, I’m hoping to see if that will nudge her into letting me take some more time off. I can’t be working on making grandbabies if I’m too exhausted from working in the bakery.”
I gave her a hug. “That’s brilliant and I love it. Thank you for coming over and not mocking me too much for my terrible decision-making skills.”
I didn’t need to ask either of them to keep my secret. I knew they would, as I kept their secrets.
“You’re welcome. I’m always here for you, you know that.” Linley and Em exchanged hugs as well and left me alone with a snoozing cat on the couch.
I was almost too tired to walk to my bedroom and get into bed, but somehow I managed and I was asleep instantly.
In the morning when my alarm went off and I saw that I was in bed alone (with the exception of the cat again), I couldn’t help but be disappointed.
* * *
The next dayI got myself back on track with work. I’d recently signed a contract to do transcription for a new podcast, so I was still learning the ropes for that. I was extremely close to overscheduling myself, and I was going to have to start saying no to things.
I was so engrossed in work that I missed a few text messages that I didn’t check until I was taking a break for a caffeine refuel. Blue had made me a special drink today. They were always experimenting and I often agreed to be a guinea pig. Sometimes it worked out, and sometimes it went very wrong. Today, my drink tasted like a cake and a s’more and cheesecake all at the same time and I was going to have to ask how they’d made it because I definitely wanted to order it again.
I sucked down the last of the drink from around the melting ice cubes and went through my messages. One from my mom, asking when I was coming over for dinner next. I’d probably have to do that this weekend. One from Em, which was a silly meme, and one from Esme.
You up for a free drink tonight? I’d love to see you.
I wanted to see her too, but I was a little worried about how to pretend like everything was normal.
Sounds great! See you around 8?
She wrote back that sounded good and I tried not to panic.
I had to get my shit together, and get it together convincingly.
* * *
I’d considered tellingmy freelance group chat about my predicament, but I didn’t think I needed any other opinions on what to do. The whole thing was also so embarrassing that I didn’t really want them to know about it.
I finished my workday, went home and had dinner, put on a cute outfit, and headed to the bar.
Of course, the first person I saw wasn’t Esme. It was Gretchen, leaning against Wyatt and throwing her head back in a laugh, as if she was acting in a movie or a music video.
So. Fake.
