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“What about you?” Tori turned the tables super-quick, before they could get into the TMI topics. “How’s married life? The job? School? All the things? You knocked up yet?”
Kristen choked on a laugh. “Um, no. That whole school and job part you asked about means we’re talking years before we even start trying.”
Tori had figured as much, but her questions did a great job at changing the topic.
“So, the job is good. I work with some great people. School is challenging, but I’m excited to be working toward my master’s.” Kristen sighed and her expression turned whimsical. “And married life with Blake, as cliché as it sounds, is still absolute bliss.”
Just the tone of Kristen’s voice and sappy expression left little doubt in Tori’s mind that her friend was living her best life. And with the love of her life.
“So, back to you and James. Do you think it’s getting serious?”
Tori laughed, but something inside her stomach fluttered nervously at the word,serious.
Damn, Kris was persistent at turning the subject back to where she wanted.
“Again, it’s been a week.”
She hadn’t even let herself consider it. But there it was now. That word hanging above her.
The image of James flashed in her head and everything inside her softened. She felt a little sappy and vulnerable.
Kind of the way Kris had looked when talking about Blake.
“Look, I know you don’t really do serious, but maybe it’s only because the right guy hasn’t come along.”
Even if it was the right guy, it meant opening your heart to someone and risk getting it broken. She’d learned her lesson all those years in foster care, and she was pretty much a rock star at guarding it with men in intimate relationships.
The termrelationshipwas used loosely. Usually, she’d just had sexual partners without the emotions to tangle things up.
Kristen lowered her voice. “Not everyone is as big of a douche as that Leo guy.”
“I know.”
“Good. It’s time to give someone a chance. Let someone in.”
“James and I are taking it slow.”
“Um, every night at each other’s apartment isn’t slow. It’s pretty much the fast lane.”
God, she was right.
“Have you guys even talked about it?”
“We’re not at that stage yet.”
Tori’s pulse quickened. She knew her friend had intended this conversation to be encouraging, but it seemed to be doing the opposite.
It was making her anxious.
Now Tori was all too aware of just how quickly things had been moving.
Did James even want a serious relationship? Did she? Or was this just a fun physical thing they were both indulging in?
The twisting in her gut made her realize that it might not be so casual on her end.
“Just keep an open mind and heart, okay? James is a good guy. I can vouch for him, being his sister and all.”
Sure, Kris knew him. As asister. She couldn’t vouch for how he was in relationships. And the last one hadn’t worked out so well.
