Page 48 of Ring Me

“Well, is he poor?”

“If he was I wouldn't care.”

“What kind of car does he drive?”

“A yellow Mustang.”

“His place is nice?”

“Pretty nice, sure.”

“And you never see him go anywhere, no business calls, nothing?”

“No, but he said he used to work...”

“Then he's rich.”

My face was uncomfortably hot. The waiter appeared with my new beer, and I took it gratefully. “He's not poor and he isn't rich.”

“God you don't knooooow,” she groaned, covering her eyes. Just then my phone buzzed against her forehead, making her startle. “Ah! Someone's calling you.”

I reached my hand out. “Who?”

She eyed the screen and didn't hand me my phone. Her lips stretched into a grimace. “Um, Ben?”

“Why the hell is he calling me?”

“Should I hang up on him?”

“No, give me.” She put the phone into my grasping fingers. Sitting back, I frowned hard at Ben's number as it blinked. Conner's face swam through my mind; I heard him telling me he was the jealous type. I didn't want to hurt him, even accidentally, by talking to my ex. “I'm not answering. I don't want to, and I don't need to.”

“Good for you.”

“Did I tell you my mom tried to set me up with him again?”

“Noooo,” she gawked.

“Yeah.” I squeezed the phone until my hand hurt. “She suggested I give him a second chance. Gross, right?”

“Super gross.”

It was a sign of our friendship that she took my side automatically, sympathizing with me. It made me feel extra guilty about hiding Conner from her. “Aubrey, I really am sorry I didn't mention Conner to you. Or the stuff with my mom.” I looked at the ring on my finger. “Maybe I'm in over my head. Juggling all these lies is exhausting. There's not going to be a wedding, but if there was, I would have asked you to be my maid of honor. I'm a terrible friend.”

Her hip shoved against me—she'd jumped out of her seat and into mine. “Hey!” she shouted, hugging me tight.

“Aubrey, you're smothering me!”

“I know. It's my way of showing I have a girl-crush on you, Maya.” She wrapped me up until I winced through my surprised laughter. “I'm sorry for being so pissy. I was shocked about the wedding invitation, but only because I care about you. You're my best friend, Maya. And that means I stick by you—figuratively and literally.”

My arms wound around her, hugging her back. “Aubrey...”

“That also means,” she went on, putting her chin on my scalp, “Seeing through your tough facade. You really dig this guy. It's crazy obvious, and maybe crazy crazy, but so what? Love is like that.”

“I'm not in love,” I argued, eyes bulging.

“Mn, I think you are.” She looked at me with a knowing smirk. “And if your fake wedding becomes real, I happily accept the crown of maid of honor, thanks muchly.”

“You're seriously breaking my ribs.”

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