Page 17 of False Start

"Inside your apartment, we can be fuck buddies, but outside of your apartment, we're just acquaintances who met that one time at the wedding."

"Exactly," I say, holding my breath for her final decision.

After a few more seconds of hesitation, she extends her hand, and I hurry to shake it. I move to open the door for her, doing my best to play it cool.

"We're really doing this," she says, pausing in the doorway. There's a mixture of hesitation and disbelief in her voice, and I make it my mission to convince her she made the right choice.

"We're really doing this," I confirm. I want to kiss her, but something tells me that's the wrong move. I settle on "keep your phone on," and she giggles on her way to the elevator.

Is tomorrow too soon to text for a booty call?

Chapter eight

Denise

Tiffanyrushesbreathlesslypastme and heads straight to my fridge. Madame Purrington yawns from her perch on the cat tree by the window, thoroughly disinterested.

"I'm so glad you still wanted to do a 'Binge & Bitch' session, girl! It's an emergency!"

She pulls out the sparkling wine and strawberries I keep on hand for our get togethers, and I grab the bowl of popcorn from the microwave to meet her at the couch.

"Of course. Just 'cause Maya's on her honeymoon, doesn't meanwecan't hang out. What's up?"

Tiffany looks at me doubtfully and I make a mental note to hang out with her more one on one. She's cool people, it's just Maya and I have been "ride or die" since college. Tiffany missed all the pub crawls down Willoughby Avenue, sneaking into the sketchy clubs near Union Square, and checking out drum circles at Prospect Park. It's hard to make up for that in a little over a year.

"Do you remember Monica? The hottie I met at the wedding?" I nod. "Well, our yoga date was even better than that first night. We came back to my place all sweaty, then I tested her flexibility in a private session."

She touches the tip of her tongue to her teeth, a glint in her eye, and I almost choke on my popcorn.

"Damn, Tiffany! You out here turning these chicks out?"

I snicker at the mischievous smile on her face.

"Anyway," she continues, "We went out a few more times, and it was all good. But a couple days ago, she finally brought me back toherplace, and I met—"

She stops abruptly, biting her lips to hold back the rest of the sentence. My stomach fills with dread. This can't be good. Why can't my girl catch a break?

"Well? Don't leave me hanging, Tiff!" I demand when the silence goes on too long. "Was it her parents? Does she still live at home or something?"

Tiff gives me a bittersweet smile that has me even more worried.

"Iwishit was her parents. It was actually…her boyfriend."

"Boyfriend!" I exclaim, nearly upending the bowl of popcorn sitting between us. "What the hell? Why is everyone and their mom cheating?"

Tiffany laughs and moves the bowl to the table.

"It's actually not like that. She's not cheating. They want me to be their third."

I tilt my head in confusion.

"Their third…Like a menage à trois situation?"

Tiffany sighs and reaches over to take a gulp of wine straight from the bottle.

"Kinda? The way she explained it was like she wanted it to be a regular thing. Like maybe I could date them both?"

I have nothing but questions.

---