Page 77 of The Cupcake Standard

Any flower from you is my favorite. Thank you. Xoxo.

I walked around the apartment, feeling more lonely and depressed the longer I stared at the large empty space. So I called my best friend.

Gina answered on the first ring.

“How are you and Josh?”

“We’re…okay. He’s staying with his parents tonight, but we talked. He said the weirdest thing about me and Liam.” She sounded genuinely disturbed about the idea of anything sexual with Derek’s best friend, but I couldn’t even muster a smile. “How are you?”

“Crappy.” The word didn’t even touch how low I was feeling.

“Want me to sleepover? You order Chinese, and I’ll pick up ice cream?”

This time my lips curled upward. “Yes, please.” She knows me so well.

I changed into comfier, warmer clothes, then tidied up the kitchen from last night. And I took stock of our drink situation. We had another decent bottle of whiskey. There were still two six packs of light beer, one fifth of vodka and a pack of cider. More than plenty.

Chapter Fifteen

A knock on my door had me rushing to answer, grinning when Gina threw her arms around me. “Hey, girl, sorry he ditched you so soon after the main event.”

Happy to have my friend with me, I returned her squeeze. “That’s not even the half of it.” I quickly filled her in on Derek postponing his flight and our mini sex marathon.

“Wow. That sounds serious.” She looked at me, eyes now brimming with a different kind of concern.

Because it doesn’t seem like some casual fling? “Yeah, I’m still processing. Maybe it’s a good thing he’s gone? I can sort through whatever the hell just happened.” Uncomfortable with the way she studied me, I changed the subject. “And I’m sorry we left you in the parking lot today.”

“About that…” She switched to a glare.

I laughed. “Well, you two didn’t look like you were stopping any time soon, and Derek had a flight to catch.” At the time. “Besides, it was a solid twenty minutes before you called me. I mean, it took you that long to notice we were gone.”

She chuckled. “You know I love me a good argument.”

It was something I’d never understood. Arguing made me cringe, but it was fuel to Gina. “Give me the ice cream before it melts.”

We tucked the ice cream into the freezer and looked over the Chinese menu.

“Ooh, I know something that’ll make you feel better. Remember how you won the bet that Derek and I would do it last night?” I grinned at her. “Guess where we did it?” I had her in stitches, telling her how Derek snuck me downstairs with his spare key to have sex on Liam’s floor in front of his fireplace. “We used one of Derek’s blankets though, so I don’t feel too bad about it.”

“I’d love to rub that in Liam’s face.” She flipped over her menu with a sigh. “So many options. Everything sounds good, and I don’t know what to get.”

“Ugh, me either.” There was a knock at my door, and I glanced at Gina. “Wonder who that could be.”

It was Liam, looking a little red around the eyes. As soon as he saw Gina, he deflated even more. “Oh, sorry. I just thought with Derek gone you might be looking for company. I’ll go.” He turned around.

“Not so fast.” I grabbed his forearm, pulling him inside. “What’s going on?”

He rubbed his stubbly cheek. “Carla broke up with me.”

I shot Gina a look, and she immediately shook her head. Tough shit, Liam is my friend, too. I continued glaring at her until she softened just a bit, rolling her eyes but nodding.

Hands on my hips, I looked over Liam’s jeans and nice shirt he still wore. “Okay, you can join the rest of us ditched misfits for the night, provided you follow some rules.”

He eyed me warily.

“Number one, you go downstairs and find some comfy clothes, preferably ratty ones we can make fun of you about. I’m talking bunny slippers and fluffy pink robes here.” I kept my expression stern. “Two, you must consume large amounts of Chinese food and you’ll let Derek pay for it.”

He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “Nonnegotiable. He deserted us after all, so it’s only fair. Three—this is a biggie, so pay attention. Drinking is the main goal of tonight, and it won’t be for the faint of heart. There will be stupid movies, card games and probably some pillow fights, truth or dare, maybe even drunken hugs which you will participate in without complaint. Now if you agree to abide by these rules, you may stay. Do you so swear?”

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