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“Look, it’s been a big day for you, and I’m tired. Nothing good will come from us arguing,” I tell him softly. “You can stay, but I think I’m going to go home.”
“Addy,” he whispers. “I’m sorry, I was out of line.”
“Yes, you were.”
My hands fumble inside my purse for my keys. “Will you catch a ride home?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
I nod quietly. Then turn around before he calls my name again.
“About what Jacob said,” he begins with then stalls. “It’s half true. I just don’t want guys thinking you’re that type of college girl.”
My eyes fall to the ground. I’m not that type of girl, but if I was, the choice wouldn’t even be mine. Between my father and Cruz, no man will want to go near me anyway.
“Goodnight, Cruz. Text me when you get home safely.”
The car is parked just down the driveway. I walk in silence, thinking about tonight. The small window in which my attraction to Jacob came to the surface was so easily replaced by my respect toward my best friend. The more I think of it, the more I realize my lack of dating or interest in men has a lot to do with not hurting Cruz’s feelings.
We’ve gotten into fights over guys before. One fight made me so angry I actually ended up sleeping with the guy. Cruz didn’t speak to me for a whole week. It was then I realized no man was worth losing my best friend over.
Our friendship means everything to me.
As I sit in the car, the last place I want to go to is my lonely apartment. So, I take a detour and drive up the windy road toward Hidden Hills.
Pressing my sister’s name on the screen, I hear the phone ring through Bluetooth.
“Hey, Addy.”
“You awake?”
“I’ve got three kids, and I just had a baby. Always assume I’m awake,” Millie retorts.
“Okay, see you in ten.”
* * *
It’s just after ten when I get to her place. Millie is in the kitchen with Will, sitting across from each other at the table. My eyes suddenly fall upon their plates, the red velvet cake looking awfully familiar.
“Is that where the rest of Mom’s cake went?”
Millie licks her lips, and, of course, Will is gawking at her like a crazed sex maniac. Honestly, these two are trying at the best of times. How much sex can you really be having with three kids around?Don’t ask the question.
“Yep, I snuck in early before Dad and Alexa got to it.”
I plonk myself down next to Will and steal his fork out of his hand to take a bite. I’m reminded once again just how good it tastes.
“Do you think I’m heartless?”
Millie pulls back with a mouthful of cake. “I need context.”
“Why are women obsessed with meeting the right guy and falling in love?”
Will grabs the fork back off me while I wait for Millie to give me her opinion on the matter. If I’d had this convo with Ava, she’d try to set me up with a string of men to attempt to change me.
“I think from a young age we’re raised to believe in prince charming and the fairy tale. And during the years where we transition from girl to woman, there are so many mixed emotions. We seek validation from others, yet unsure of our own strengths. There’s the whole peer pressure…”
“You mean Ava?”
