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“I’m giving them an excellent lesson in karma for being cheating assholes,” Tessa declared triumphantly. “And don’t worry, I send them a text letting them know to check for leeches. And how to remove them. In the morning.” At this point she couldn’t hold in her own laughter, and once she started, I couldn’t help it. We shared a solid thirty seconds of belly laughs before it finally died down.
When we regained control of our senses, I shook my head. “You’re diabolical. What if you meet a truly good guy and you have no idea because you’re too focused on getting revenge against those losers?”
Tessa just shrugged. “I’ll know when I meet a good one. But I might just die from shock.”
“Maybe I should have you meet Jake. I’m pretty sure he’s a good one. Perhaps you two would hit it off.” I said it as a throwaway statement, but she saw right through me.
“Hell no, I wouldn’t touch that guy with a ten-foot pole. I don’t care how good of a guy he is.”
“Why not?” I asked, immediately offended on Jake’s behalf for the rejection.
“Because whether you want to admit it, you like him. And even if things are complicated now, that doesn’t mean they’ll always be. There’s no way I could even attempt something when I know how you feel.”
Sometimes, having a friend who knew you almost too well was annoying.
“Fine. You’re right, I do like him.”
“See? There’s a chance it could work out. You just need to avoid jumping his bones until your dad’s out of the way.”
“If only it were that easy,” I sighed, reaching for the nearly empty wine bottle and pouring the dregs into my glass.
Tessa spun in the chair again. “Is he really that hot, El? I mean, Zach’s pretty good looking and you were never really hot under the collar for him.”
“I know. I know! Yes, he’s hot, but there’s more to it than that. He’s got this whole vibe that’s hard to explain. It’s like two parts Captain America, one part naughty schoolboy, and one part take-charge boss man. It’s a confusing mix. I keep imagining what he’d be like in bed.”
“There’s only one way to find out...” Tessa’s suggestive tone sent immediate warning bells through my head.
“No, no, no. We agreed, no messing around while we’re working together. Period.”
“I’m curious now, I have to admit. Is he going to be at the Fall Fest?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I haven’t really discussed it with him.”
“I think it’s high time your bestie met this complex puzzle of a man. I can help you sort it out. Just bring him by my booth.”
“Sure, because that won’t look obvious,” I snorted into my glass.
“It doesn’t have to be. Just think of it as a chance for me to evaluate if he’s worth all this angst.”
“It’s not angst! It’s… it’s…” I searched for something that sounded more mature than angst.
“Hormones?”
“Fuck off, it’s not hormones. I just like him, and I can’t do anything about it, and it’s frustrating.”
“I can tell you’re very frustrated. You should take out some of that frustration on Captain America. Maybe you can just get it out of your system.”
“God, will you stop already? I thought you were supposed to be my friend.”
“I am, and that’s why I’m giving you permission to jump his bones.” Tessa lifted her wineglass and made the sign of the cross in front of her chest with it. “Go forth and bone.”
I couldn’t help chuckling. “You’re impossible. I can’t.”
“El, your dad doesn’t need to know. Maybe once you scratch that itch, you’ll be over it.”
“Yeah, or maybe I’ll just be even moreintoit. Did you consider that possibility?”
“Why is that a bad thing?”
