Page 42 of The Friend Situation

“Why not?” I ask. It’s a simple question, one I know she won’t answer.

“I thought you weren’t getting involved.”

She narrows her eyes. I might have pushed it too far.

“I’m curious.”

“You knowwhy. We’ve talked about it several times,” she says. “It’s like you’ve forgotten. You forgetnothing.”

My mind reels, but I don’t react. What does Easton know? What has he said to her?

“Oh, right.That,” I state, rolling my eyes. The reaction is the correct one.

I stare at her for a few seconds longer, unable to keep this going. At some point, it’s just cruel.

I move to the opposite side of the booth. A few seconds later, a glass of bourbon is delivered, and I take a sip.

“You passed the test,” I say, repeating the same words she did to me last night when we almost kissed.

She stares at me. “Don’t you need to go home to your wife?”

“Last time I checked, I only have a soon-to-beex-wife.” I stare at her with brows lifted, but she doesn’t understand. “I’mnotEaston.”

“Wait, what?” Her face contorts.

“You suck. It shouldn’t have been that easy to fool you, Carlee.”

“I don’t believe you,” she mutters.

I lean forward, interlocking my fingers, admiring her. She’s absolutely stunning.

“Easton’s with Lexi. I can FaceTime him right now and prove it to you. But then you might have to explain yourself, considering we’re together. Or you can text Lexi and ask her what she’s doing.”

She pulls her phone from her pocket and begins typing. Seconds later,myphone buzzes.

I turn the screen to show her. “Is this the first time you’ve ever sent me a text without me engaging in the conversation first?”

She smirks because it’s a confirmation.

Of course I noticed how shenevertexts me.

“What if you two switched phones?”

“I wouldneverleave my phone near him. Face recognition can’t tell the difference between us, and he’d read every word of our private conversations.”

“I have nothing to hide,” she tells me. “Do you?”

“Just our entire friendship,” I say, lifting my glass.

However, if Easton read our texts, he’d instantly knowmysecrets.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be here.” She glances around the room.

“The only reason we are is because you said yes. For once.”

She scoffs. “You act like I say no to everything.”

“You typically do. But it seems like that’s changing.” I lick my lips, unable to ignore how fucking pretty she is. “You’re gorgeous.”

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