Page 75 of Friend Me

“And what’d you call this one?” Setting The Cooper back in the box, she ran a manicured finger over the veins and ridges of the other one.

“The Tyler,” I mumbled.

“You named a sex toy after your platonic friend, who might not even be your friend anymore.”

I curled my knees up to my chest. “It’s complicated.”

“Hmm.” At last, she took pity on me and changed the subject. “Jackson wants to have a party next weekend.”

I looked up at her. “A party a week after your honeymoon?”

“That’s what I said! He wants to throw a welcome-back-slash-Halloween party at our place. We, um”—I could see her struggling to tame the smile that wanted to break out over her face—“we have special associations with Halloween.”

She’d told me about Jackson’s party last year in Austin, when he’d kissed her for the first time. Her happily-ever-after had started a little over a year ago, and now she was married to her true love. I sighed.

“You’ll come, right?” she asked.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it. Will…will Cooper be there?”

The corners of her mouth tightened. “Yes, he’ll be there.” She paused. “Jamila, too. And Tyler.” She compressed her lips. I could tell she was holding something back.

“Marlee?” Dad’s voice came from downstairs.

I frowned. He’d already gone to bed—he slept a lot lately—and I was surprised he was still awake. “I’ll be right back,” I said.

It took a few minutes to resettle Dad. He wanted a glass of water and couldn’t find his cane, which had rolled under his bed. I returned to find Alicia scanning the titles in my bookcase.

“You have all of my favorites from when I was a kid.” She ran a finger over the bent spines.“Anne of Green Gables, The Princess Diaries, The Baby-Sitters Club.”

“I couldn’t give them up. Dad said he used to tell me stories—fairy tales—while my mother was pregnant with me. And when I was little. Then I graduated to those. I guess that’s where all this came from.” I waved my hand at my frilly pink-and-white room. I pointed to the now-dark dormer window with its cushioned seat. “When I was a kid, I’d sit there and read and then act out the stories with my dolls. I still love to curl up there under a blanket with a romance novel.”

Alicia stroked her sweater over her baby bump. “Maybe we’ll build a window seat and some bookcases. You can advise us on reading material.”

“It’s a girl?” I squealed.

“We just found out this morning.”

I hugged my friend. “I can’t wait to buy her a pink dress. With ruffles! And I’ll read herThe Secret Garden.”Visions of princess tea parties with Alicia’s daughter danced through my head. I’d be the best auntie ever.

The doorbell rang, breaking into my visions of princess mani-pedis.

I headed for the stairs. “It’s probably our neighbor Alma checking on us. I’ll be right back.”

I ran down the stairs, unbolted the door, and opened it. But it wasn’t Alma. Tyler filled the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” I blurted out.

He ducked his head, and I winced. “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

The corners of his mouth lifted just a little. “You didn’t answer your phone, and I was in the area.” He looked at his sneakers and scuffed them on the stoop.

No one from Synergy was ever “in the area” of Oakland. I crossed my arms.

He looked up, and the light from inside glinted off his glasses. “Listen, I’m sorry about—about our fight earlier. I overstepped. And I’m sorry.”

My back stiff, I said, “It’s okay.”

“Can we go back to being friends again?”

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