Page 13 of Most Likely to Fear Love

“In the meantime, Harle came by again today.”

Rubbing her hands over her face, Hannah gave me a contrite look. “Man, I’m fucking hopeless today. I knew that was happening. How did it go?”

“Great. You know, dropped off his sample and left.”

“Didn’t hang around to help you…”

I rolled my eyes. “No, you weirdo. But he did say he’d be happy to come by tomorrow, to give me another sample.”

“That’s really nice of him!”

“Yeah, it is.”

Our drinks arrived, Hannah paid and turned around, ready to head back to the group.

I grabbed her arm. “Wait. I’ve got a problem.”

“What is it?”

“How do I explain this?” I raised my glass.

“Oh, um, yeah. You’re on a detox?”

Making air quotes with the fingers of one hand, I said, “I was on a detox last month, remember?”

“That’s right. Shit. Okay, lemme think. How about you just tell them the truth? You know they’ll be supportive. They love you.”

Instant head shake to that option. “I can’t, Han, it’s too…” Embarrassing. Shameful. Proof that I’d well and truly given up any thought of another long term, committed relationship. They’d all rallied around me when the other one fell apart, but they didn’t know all the gory details. I hoped they never would. Hannah didn’t even know the full story.

“Sorry. I know how you feel about it and I shouldn’t push you. It’s your business. You don’t have to tell anyone anything. But now they’re all looking at us, wondering why we’re taking so long. Let’s just head over and I’ll think of something on the fly.”

When we got to the table, before Hannah had even opened her mouth, Maya gestured to my glass. “You back on that cleanse thing?”

“Yeah. Thought I needed it.”

“I might get the details from you, if you don’t mind. I could do with something like that.”

“Sure, I’ll dig it out.”

“Great! Thanks. Now, Han, fill us in on why you’re all hot under the collar.”

Well, that was easy. Thank fuck.

“Dex. I fucking hate him.”

“Honestly, he is not that bad. Plus, he’s really hot, if you go for the broody, serious type. Which I most emphatically do.”

“Don’t say that, Mia! You’ll only set her off more!” I put in hastily.

“Wait til you hear the latest.” The scowl was back with a vengeance.

“We’re all ears.”

“He bought a 1957 Chev Bel Air!”

When she didn’t elaborate, Maya, ever the supportive one, said, “What an asshole.”

Hannah took a big sip of her whiskey sour and slammed the glass down. “Right?”

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