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“Hey,” Peyton looks me over and I can tell she’s trying to read the situation as her eyes move back and forth between me and Everett.
“Where’s Sky?”
“Upstairs sucking Aidan’s dick, I’m assuming.” She says as she turns back to her phone.
“A simple she’s not up yet would have sufficed.” I roll my eyes as I open the refrigerator, and sure enough, see a freshly popped bottle of champagne. She chuckles to herself and when I turn around, she downs the rest of her champagne. “Where’s the fire?”
“I’m going to a day party at Alpha Pi.” She’s already dressed for the day, sporting her leather jacket and her favorite crop top with a pair of her lucky jeans. And I don’t mean the brand.
“Alone?”
“No, ho. You’re coming with.” She pulls out her compact and checks her bright red lipstick in the mirror before puckering her lips.
“Me?” I ask just as Everett, whose ears perked up from across the room says, “Who?”
Peyton raises her middle finger and holds it behind her head towards Everett. “You’re coming, Skyler has plans with Aidan, and can’t be on Leighton duty today. She said we should go get like mani pedis or see a movie or some shit, but that’s not how I keep my girl from dwelling on bullshit.” She turns around and glares at Everett to drive home the part about what exactly she’s referring to as ‘bullshit.’ “We’re getting drunk.”
“Pey…I appreciate the sentiment, although I don’t really need a babysitter…” I glare at her.
“Clearly that was a joke, but you just found out the love of your life might have knocked up some other girl, you’re allowed to be upset, you’re allowed to need your friends, and you’re allowed to get drunk with said friends and let hot fraternity guys get you liquored up.” She glares at Everett again. “I know you’ve known him for like a hundred years, but people change, babe. Not everyone stays friends with their childhood friends forever.”
“Enough!” Everett barks as he moves into the kitchen. I feel his anger under my skin and I know I need to calm him down before he explodes.
“Babe…” I don’t know how I missed it, but the look in Peyton’s eyes shows me that she’s more than a few mimosas in, and she’s ready to go for Everett’s jugular.
“Peyton, don’t start that shit.” Everett’s eyes are darker than their usual bright blue and I can see the tinge in his cheeks from when he’s worked up.
“What shit?” She stands up and slaps her hand against the counter. “You got some other girl pregnant! When you profess to be so in love with my best friend!”
“She was my goddamn best friend first, Peyton. Don’t talk some shit like I don’t care about her or you know her better than I do.”
“Okay, don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room.” I interrupt and stare at them both.
“Leigh, you don’t need this. I know you’re too close and too involved in the situation, but you’re not seeing this for what it is. You’re going to what? Help him raise a child with another woman he cheated on you with?”
“Peyton… stop it,” I tell her. Not only did I not want to hear it, I certainly didn’t want to hear it right now in front of Everett.
“It’s bullshit.” She points at me.
“Peyton, this isn’t your business,” Everett snarls. “And you’re so desperate to not be a fifth wheel, you’re using this to recruit a new wingwoman. Don’t project your misery onto anyone else,” he continues.
“Everett!” I shriek.
Peyton’s eyes widen and she takes a step back. “You think…you think I’m miserable? If you do, you haven’t been paying attention. What reason would I have to want to jump into a relationship? What I’ve seen here?” She points back and forth between me and Everett. “No, I’d rather my man not sleep with other women and get them pregnant. Nice try though. Please explain to me how you passed Psych. No, you’re lashing out at me because I’m going to keep it real with Leighton and that scares the fuck out of you because I might just be able to cut through the bullshit dickmatization you have over her.”
I can see Everett gearing up for his comeback so I put my hand up. “Both of you, enough,” I snap and look at Everett. “Can you give us a second?” He narrows his gaze at her before he heads back up the stairs without another look at me. I glare at her before I point towards our front door. I follow her outside and close it slowly behind us. It’s barely ten AM, which means it’s still chilly, but it’s April so it’s already rounding fifty degrees.
“Listen, Leigh, I’m sorry I snapped like that.” She looks contrite, and I know she does feel bad which calms me down slightly.
I’m not sure what I want to say to her. I want to yell at her and hug her and call her the worst friend and the best friend. I want to question her for judging me and thank her for vocalizing it. I’m so conflicted and I hate that the feelings of the man currently seething in my bedroom cause so much of that conflict.
“Say something,” she says as she leans against the steel railing attached to our stairs.
“You think I’m dickmatized?”
Her eyes widen as if she’s shocked. “You think you aren’t?”
“I think Everett made a mistake, but…I do think he loves me. I know that without his dick inside of me Pey.”
