Page 3 of The Friend Situation

“We’ll see. Now, do you want to hear about my date, or would you like to keep talking about your brother-in-law? My ride will be here in thirty minutes.” I abruptly change the subject.

“Tell me,” she says, moving to the edge of the couch cushion and leaning in to catch every detail.

“Okay, so Trever works in finance, and I’ve known him for twoand a half weeks. This is our third date, and I’m meeting him at The Marquee for drinks.”

“Oh, wow. Extravagant for a third date.”

“Right? If I go home with him, I’ll send you my location in case I go missing. Anything else?”

“Don’t joke like that.” She stares me down. Her gaze pierces through my facade like she’s sorting through my thoughts. “Trever’s getting dumped tonight.” Certainty fills her tone.

“What?No.I’m hoping he takes me back to his place.” I lower my voice. “He’spacking, and he seems very experienced. Plus, you know a man in a tailored suit is a wet dream of mine. Big O material. I could use someone who can deliver, if you know what I mean. It’s been a year, Lex. One. Year. My lady parts are going to seal themselves shut.” I shake my head.

“Not happening. It’s already over between you two. I can see it on your face,” she confirms.

Nothing I say will convince her otherwise. She’s giving me her cocky Little Miss Know It All attitude, which drives me crazy. However, she does know me better than anyone else.

“Are you sure you’re not delusional from being pregnant? Or maybe it’s love that’s poisoned your thoughts.” I wink at her, trying to lighten the mood. I pin one side of my hair out of my face, then lightly spritz perfume behind my ear.

Last September, Lexi and Easton invited me and Weston over so they could tell us they were pregnant. It’s a secret they’re hiding from everyone until it becomes too noticeable to hide. The Calloways are strategic and great at keeping things hidden.

“Delusional? Maybe my baby has a sixth sense about these things.” She closes her eyes, rubbing her tiny belly like it’s a Magic 8 Ball. “I predict it ends withintwohours and you don’t go home with him. Life is too short to spend on crappy dates. Love happens when you least expect it.”

“I cannot pass up theonlyopportunity I’veeverhad to enter The Marquee. You know it’s been on my wish list for years. Plus, Idon’t cancel dates at the last minute. Sorry, but no, I can’t,” I explain.

“Not even for a million bucks?” she asks, eyebrows raised.

“Not eventenmillion. It’s karma I don’t want. Seven years of bad-luck shit.” My tone sharpens as I remember the sting of being ditched. It’s a douche move, and she knows my integrity can’t be bought.

“Trever has reliable fling potential and is only searching for something short-term. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll continue down the dating app queue until I find someone who vibes with me,” I add as the city ambience drifts through the poorly insulated walls of my apartment. It’s affordable, so I can’t complain.

“What is it that Carlee Jolly wants?” she asks curiously.

I sigh, searching for the right words.

She clears her throat. “What about a six-two man who’s stacked with muscles? Tattoos. Baby blues. Messy hair you can run your fingers through. He comes with a fun personality and maybe a teeny-tiny bit of baggage, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.”

“Give him a chance to heal from his dirty-as-fuck divorce. Jeez, I really hope you don’t do to him what you do to me. Relentless,” I state, carrying my phone to the bathroom to apply dark red lipstick. I uncap it, looking down at the rich color. It’s the cherry on top of this seductive look I’m going for tonight.

“You haven’t ever really moved on from?—”

“Do not say his name,” I warn.

She opens her mouth to speak, and I quickly interrupt her again, “Seriously. Please.”

“It’s just superstition,” Lexi says. “Samson.”

“Oh my God!Lex!Do you have any idea what you’ve done? He’s like Beetlejuice. His entire family is. You do realize that, right?” I growl out, annoyed.

Samson is the last man I wanted to think about today. Sometimes, I still can’t believe we’re not in one another’s life. We went from friends to lovers to strangers.

“You know the only way to get over someone is to get under someone else,” she states as I put lipstick on my bottom and top lip.

“The only way to get over someone you deeply loved is to fall in love harder than you ever have before. That scares the shit out of me, Lex. I don’t know if I’d be able to survive another breakup like that. It took years. Maybe I’m the problem.” I let out a long sigh.

“I don’t think so,” Lexi says. “Life is too short to settle on shitty men.”

“That’s why I think a no-strings-attached arrangement with thepossibilityof falling in love is what I need. No pressure, but just having adult fun.”

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