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As Saint and Cree went to go find somewhere to have a cigarette, Lulee and I made our way to the gazebo. When you walked up to the center courtyard, you came across the gazebo first. After that was the fire pit, the barbecue pit, the jacuzzi, a rather sizeable patio set, then the pool. After the pool was another large patio set, but the entire thing came together to really give you that neighborhood block party vibe. The gazebo was even meshed to keep out the bugs at night, though you could see the bug zappers disguises streetlamps.
“They probably have to walk out to the street to smoke,” Lulee huffed.
“I’m surprised that they didn’t take a smoke break when we stopped at the gas station earlier,” I remarked absently.
“Saint’s trying to quit,” Lulee announced, and the girl in me was bothered that I didn’t know that. It was unreasonable and stupid, but no less the truth. “So, Cree tries not to smoke that much around him.”
Eyeing my best friend, I said, “I’m still mad at you.”
Lulee’s entire frame sagged defeatedly. “I know,” she replied quietly. “I know I did a crappy thing, Ver, but…yeah, okay.” She let out a dramatic huff. “I was being a bitch. What I did was super shitty, and I should have told you everything back at the apartment.”
“But…?”
“Saint really likes you, Verity,” she said, and I could feel my stomach fluttering. “I mean, the guy really, really, really likes you. Now, normally, I’d leave him to his own devices for the way that he handled those girls, but I know that you still like him, Ver. Iknowit.”
“Lulee-”
“And, yeah, it was shitty to put all your insecurities out there at the gas station, but you were demanding to know why I did this, and that’s the answer,” she went on. “Why you think that you’re not good enough for Saint Hendrix, I have no idea. You are smart, beautiful, driven, kind, and a million other positive adjectives. Saint would be lucky to have you as his girlfriend.”
“It’s not that I’m insecure,” I semi-lied. “It’s just…who needs that drama, Lulee? Who wants to date a guy that has to keep fending off other women?”
“That’s not fair,” she replied softly. “Saint has never had a steady girlfriend while at Monarch, so those girls probably thought that it was okay to approach him. I think if he put it out there that he had a girlfriend, that shit would stop.”
I snorted. “Have you seen Saint Hendrix?”
“Okay, yeah,” she muttered. “He’s gorgeous as sin, that’s true. However, you’re already charging him with crimes that he hasn’t even committed yet.” I opened my mouth to argue, but she quickly added, “And we both know that there’s no way that Saint could have won that night, Ver. Had he been rude to those girls, you would have thought the worst of him. He was damned either way.”
“Butsharinga room, Lulee?”
“I know you, Verity,” she said. “Now, while that doesn’t excuse what I did, I needed to try something before Saint Hendrix became the greatest ‘what if’ of your life. As we mature, you might look back on this, realize that you might have overreacted a bit, and the regret will end up staying with you. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be forever, use this week to get to know him. Use this week to hang out with the guy that you used to think was awesome before your date. Hell, use this week to get laid.”
That had me barking out a laugh. “Glad to see you have your priorities straight.”
Lulee grinned back at me. “You can’t tell me that you haven’t thought about it, Verity.”
“It’s kind of hard not to look at him and keep your mind out of the gutter,” I admitted.
She reached out, then squeezed my leg. “Look, I’m sorry, okay?” She sounded genuine enough for me to know that she meant it. “What I did was wrong, and I could have handled your reaction better since you really are the only victim here. Ver, you’re my best friend, and I don’t want you thinking that I’m not taking this seriously or have dismissed your feelings, because that’s not true.” Putting her hand back in her lap, she added, “I just know that you still like Saint, regardless of your date and these past couple of months.”
While being petty had its place, I wasn’t going to lie to my best friend just to win. “I do,” I admitted. “I just…I think I just need a minute to wrap my mind around not hating him anymore. I’ve been mad at him for months, and…I just need to snap out of that.”
“And I think that this place is the perfect spot for that,” she replied.
“Speaking of that, are you sure?” I asked, half-teasing. “I mean, was it just me, or was Marilyn a little bit…different?”
Lulee’s blue eyes widened. “Oh, my God,” she choked out. “I swear that woman almost popped a blood vessel when I used the word throuple.” I chuckled. “I mean, talk about a puritan.”
“Yeah, she seems a bit straightlaced,” I agreed.
“And for a second there, I thought she was going to send that poor guy on his way,” she went on. “It was like…a switched flipped, turning her into a decent person and offering up a room.”
I nodded. “Like…like she had to remind herself that she was in public or something, right?”
Lulee threw me a look. “Now, if your reasons for not wanting to hook up with Saint anymore have something to do with the newcomer, I’d totally understand.”
“Stop it,” I chided. “It’s not like that.”
“Still, the guy is hot,” she said. “You can’t deny that.”
