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“About time,” she mutters, popping the bite in her mouth.
“So I went on this trip with Cole,” I say slowly, calculating, waiting for her response. I had said his name Sunday when getting my pup. Her eyes widened for a quick second, but she didn’t ask.
“Yeah. Tell me about that,” she says. So I do.
“So this whole fling. It’s turned into more then?” she asks.
“Maybe.” I hesitate and close my eyes.
“Maybe?” She chuckles in disbelief.
“No, you’re right. It’s more.”
“Like, in love more?” Leaning forward, she whispers the question.
I shake my head. I can’t be in love with Cole. Not possible. “No, not that. Just more…” I trail off.
She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms over her chest. Then nods. “All right. A fun little fling is now more. You’re not in love with him, but you like him a lot. You like spending time with him?”
I point to her as if she’s won. “Exactly.”
“Does he feel the same?”
“I think?” I say. It’s the truth, but I can’t really tell. Her brow cocks. “Cole is such a fun and flirty man. He’s always so charming. I think…” I pause. “I think he enjoys our time together, but I don’t know that he wants more. We only see each other when we can. He doesn’t ever cross the line asking to see me more than I’m willing to offer. Him asking me to go with him this past weekend was a huge surprise. Said it would be just a weekend for us, no hiding, an escape.”
She hums, encouraging me to go on.
“It felt right. It didn’t scare me, only that I wanted it so badly.”
She bites her lip, formulating a thought process.
“What?”
Her lips press together. “Is he still Ruth’s client? Still going on dates?”
I look down, my hands twisting in my lap. “As far as I know.”
The quiet stretches between us.
“What does Cassie think of all this?” Stella asks.
Looking up at her, I give her a sad smile. “I haven’t told her.”
“You tell Cass everything.” There’s no jealousy in her tone. Cassie and I have been a pair since middle school. Stella joined our duo in college, fitting in seamlessly.
“Not this. She knows Cole and I are friends again. But that’s it.”
She nods, looking out the window.
“What do I do, Stell?” I ask her. I’m completely lost.
She pins me with her stare. “I think it’s time to stop pretending, Lay.”
I gulp.
“Whatever made you think a secret fling with a client was a good idea, you need to come clean. Start with Cassie if you’re worried about how she’s going to take it. Then you need to talk to Cole and find out what he wants. If it’s the same thing as you, he needs to put an end to the matchmaking.” Her advice is stern, which is her MO. Tough love. Cassie is the gentle hand.
“You’re right,” I mumble.
