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Addison grabbed a sheet pan from under my seldom-used oven and made quick work of dumping the chips over it. “Two months will give me plenty of time to find another job too.”
My mouth hung open. “Addy, I could never ask you to—”
She grinned. “As if I’d stay at the clinic without you. I would’ve quit a dozen times over already if I didn’t get to see your face every day. I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear your mom is not my favorite human. If she is in fact human at all?”
No, she wasn’t my favorite human, either. Nor was my father, who was basically the male, lawyer version of my mother. Both were the most self-centered people I knew, yet I’d done everything to please them over the years. To earn their love. Such wasted efforts.
“Tell me about this guy from last night. Did you meet him at the wedding?”
And now we were back to Lucas. Smiling, I took the subject change in stride. “No, we met at the hotel bar.”
“How was it?”
Since Addy knew I’d balked at going through with the last potential one-night stand I’d attempted, it wasn’t surprising she’d ask. “Incredible. I think I’m ruined for any future one-night stands.”
“That good?”
“Yeah. That good.” Four-orgasms-and-a-soreness-I-could-still-feel good.
“Wow. What do you know about him? Does he live local?”
“His name is Lucas. And I’m assuming he’s from out of town since he was staying in the hotel and was there for a medical conference, but who knows?” He probably lived on the other side of the country.
“You could find him if you wanted?”
“Absolutely not. We didn’t exchange last names, and it was a one-time deal.” Even if I was interested in seeing him again, all of his disclaimers had made it clear he wasn’t looking for anything beyond what we’d had last night.
Plus he was a doctor. Two doctors together was a disaster waiting to happen, and my last relationship was proof. There were too many late nights, lost weekends, and ego involved. Crazy girl had been fun for one night, but now it was back to practical Brooke.
“Fine, fine. Since you aren’t interested in your own love life, let’s concentrate on mine.”
“Not with the whole online dating thing again.” Addison had created a dating profile last week and was hell-bent on finding true love on the internet. I tried not to roll my eyes and be completely against the idea. Hell, I had friends who had met their significant others online, so I knew it worked for people, but I’d also heard some impressive horror stories. I couldn’t see the appeal of dating a bunch of frogs to get to the prince.
“Yes. Unlike you who had rockin’ sex last night, I have been without for months, and that guy was nothing to talk about. Although true love might be tough to find, I’d settle for an orgasm.”
“You can have an orgasm without the hassle of a lame dinner date.”
She stuck her tongue out. “Yes, but I want more than a battery-operated orgasm. I need snuggles. Someone to look forward to seeing when I get home from work and who can’t wait to hear about my day.”
I’d thought I’d had that, but Mike had only talked about his day, if we took the time to talk at all. Toward the end we were just going through the motions, each busy with our own careers. Was it any wonder we hadn’t worked out?
“Oh, no, Brooke, I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
I was sadder about the person I’d become than I was about losing the relationship. “I’m fine. And for the record, I think it’s great you want a partner. You deserve someone special.”
“You do too,” she whispered as only a best friend would.
“Yeah, but I somehow settled. Don’t do that.” I’d stayed too long in an unsatisfying relationship.
When I’d first met Mike in med school, he’d been dedicated to the practice of medicine. Smart, ambitious, and not into material things. But over the years as he’d improved his status and become a surgeon, he’d changed. He’d become more interested in keeping up appearances and his new title of surgeon than anything of substance which probably made him perfect for Bethany and my parents.
A psychologist would probably say I’d held on to my first relationship so tightly because I’d craved the security of having someone. I’d grown up in boarding school and without a real place to call home, and my icy parents had been more attached to their careers than their children. It made sense I’d craved the comfort of security in a relationship.
“I’ll tell you one thing, if I can’t find a man who enjoys nachos as much as we do, he’s not worth my time.” She brought out the pan from the oven. The sight and smell of the melted cheese kissed by the broiler caused us both to sigh with satisfaction.
Was there anything better than nachos and a best friend? I certainly didn’t think so.
The next morning, I got ready for work, still flying high from Saturday night and convinced I’d made the correct decision in quitting my job. It was more than time for me to get out from under my mother’s shadow and spread my own wings.
