Page 64 of Unromance

“So,” Lily continued. “Stop moping. You haven’t lost Mason. He just doesn’t want to sleep with you if things are purely platonic, which is fair of him. But also, yeah, I understand your need to mourn your vagina’s loss because the man is—” She let out a low whistle.

Somewhere in the background, Beau said, “Hey.”

“Sorry, babe, I mean it in a purely clinical way,” she called back. “I told you Sawyer banged the guy fromDiagnostics, right?”

As Lily and Beau went back and forth on which character Mason was—“No, Dr. Santiago. Remember, he was dating the ER nurse and then the actors started dating and everyone lost their minds?”—their conversation grew muffled, Lily presumably pressing the speaker to her chest. Sawyer stared up at the ceiling, blinking slowly as her fragmented thoughts aligned.

Kara. Mason. The cast party. Mason was going to have to see Kara for the first time since their breakup, since finding out she was engaged to the guy she’d started seeing while they were “on a break.” Not only would he have to see her, but he’d have to smile and congratulate her on her engagement, most likely shake the hand of her fiancé. That was why he hadn’t wanted to go alone. And now he was, because of her.

Sawyer sat up straight, staring at her reflection in the window. She was vaguely aware Lily was talking to her again, but she pulled the phone from her ear, checking the time. Five o’clock. The plan had been for her and Mason to get dinner before the party. She desperately needed to shower, so there was no way she’d make it to the restaurant in time for their six o’clock reservation, but maybe she could catch him before he left for the party.

She wasn’t sure if he’d want her to go with him, after everything, but she was going totry. She wasn’t going to hide out and poutbecause he’d set his own boundaries, same as her. She didn’t have time to be anyone’s girlfriend. He didn’t know how to be casual. Despite it all, before they’d given in to their libidos, they’d been good at being friends. Sawyer didn’t take that lightly. She didn’t have many people in her life she could count on. What they had was special—and worth fighting for. Even if there was a small part of her—a small part that was growing steadily less small—that wanted more, she was going to be there for her friend.

“Sawyer? Did you hear me? We’ve got plenty of champagne and charcuterie and would love for you to come over.”

She inhaled sharply. “Sorry—wait, that’s right. It’s your anniversary. What are you doing calling me? Go celebrate!”

“Oh, we have. We celebrated this morning when we woke up. And again after breakfast. Probably gonna celebrate some more—”

“Okay,” Sawyer cut her off. “I got it.”

Lily let out one of her trademark cackles. “My point is, come over. Spend the night and we’ll have hangover brunch tomorrow morning once we’re all functional enough to cook without burning down the place.”

Sawyer shook her head. “Maybe. But first, I got a party to crash.”

Lily gasped. “You’re gonna crash his party?”

“Er, no, it just sounded cool. I’m gonna try to talk to Mason—before the party, try to smooth things over and save our friendship. And maybe go to the party with him, if he wants me to. If not, I’m going to beveryoverdressed for a night of Netflix and cheese.”

Lily squealed. “This is just like the end of a rom-com.”

Closing her eyes for patience, Sawyer took a deep breath. “This is not that. Just a friend going to support a friend, okay?”

“Sure,” Lily said dubiously. “But it’s also okay if you want to be more than friends. Y’know, just floating the thought.”

“I don’t have time for a relationship right now,” Sawyer reminded her.

Lily snorted. “Clearly, you do. You’re basically already in one.”

Sawyer’s mouth clamped shut, unsure how to respond. Sinking back into the pillows, she sighed. “Even if I had time for a relationship right now—which I don’t—it doesn’t matter. He’s moving to LA soon, remember?”

Lily made a noise of intrigue. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she laughed breathlessly. I thought I was talking to Sawyer Greene, Little Miss Short-Term Low-Commitment Only. The sex must be fantastic if he’s got you daydreaming about a future.”

“I’m not—”

“Be happy, Sawyer,” Lily interrupted, firmly but not without softness. “He makes you happy, I know he does. Date him, don’t date him, whatever, but for the love of God justletyourself be happy, babe.”

“And when it blows up in my face?” she countered.

Lily groaned. “What if it doesn’t?” When Sawyer didn’t reply, Lily plowed on, voice softer. “I know you’re worried about it all imploding like last time. But answer me this: How much have you written in the past month?”

Sawyer rattled off her latest word count without having to think, the number tied to her mental well-being in a way that she was well aware was unhealthy.

“And how much have you written since your lovers’ quarrel with Mason?”

“Barely anything,” Sawyer admitted on a heavy exhale.

“I rest my case,” Lily said triumphantly. “He’s good for you. I haven’t seen youlivethis much in a long time, babe. So go get ’em.”