Page 57 of Return Policy

ELIJAH

“See ya,” Noah says, walking past the table to exit Lazy Moon.

“Later,” Des adds, following closely behind, leaving me and Andi alone.

“You okay, E?” she asks, having now moved to the spot across from me.

I tighten my hands around the water I’m now drinking. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? I’m stressed just looking at you.”

Releasing a deep breath, I sink even further into my seat. I didn’t want to argue with Sophia that we could totally take an Uber home if she was more comfortable. Or that I’d only had one beer and wasn’t planning to leave for another hour or so anyway.

I should’ve been the one to take Sophia home tonight.Did Andi being here ruin everything?

But I couldn’t argue with Sophia in front of all our friends if she really wanted Theo to take her. It’s not like we’re dating.

“Actually, I think we should talk,” I tell Andi, ready to solve problem number one.

“Um, okay. Why does this sound like the start of every break-up speechever?”

“Andi…” I tilt my head with apologetic eyes, and she huffs a laugh.

“We’re fuck buddies, bro.” She waves a casual hand. “You don’t need to give me the ‘I’m ready to see other people’ speech.”

I furrow my brows in disbelief at how chill she is. “Okay?”

“Seriously, we’re cool,” she says in a completely relaxed Andi way.

“I just thought…” I shift in my seat. “I don’t know, that you might be a little more…”

“What?” she asks in amusement. “Heartbroken? You want me to cry and tell you I wanna be more than fuck buddies?Pick me? Choose me? Love me?”She laughs, shaking her head. “Sorry, babe. Wrong girl.”

I chuckle. “Okay… cool.”

“Is this why you were so stressed today?” Andi tilts her head. “I was really worried about you. I thought it might’ve been because—”

“No,” I say quickly, cutting her off. “I’m good. I was just worried I was giving you the wrong idea since we hadn't officially talked yet.”

“Oh, okay, good… I do have one question for you though.” She clears her throat. “You know, oneex-fuck buddy to another.”

“Sure.” I roll my eyes, taking a sip of water.

“Are you waiting to ask Sophia out until Theo’s balls deep or what?”

I choke on my drink and have to pound against my chest to reclaim oxygen. “Why the fuck would you say that?”

“Which part? Because we both know you’re into Soph. I mean, you moaned her name the last time we fucked for God’s sake.”

My face burns with shame as I struggle to come up with a suitable response. “I amsosorry about that. I really thought you didn’t notice.”

“I did, I just didn’t give a shit. I was picturing Olivia in my head anyway.” The corner of her lip curls upward.

“I’m a little hurt right now,” I say.

“You’ll get over it.” She pats me lightly on the forearm.

“And hold up.” I raise my brows. “Olivia?”

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