Page 11 of Problematic Summer Romance

“The whole?”

“The massacre. Tell me about therageyou’re experiencing.”

“Hmm, I’d rather forget about it. You tell me—have you met everyone?”

“I think so? Aside from…Avery, I think is her name. I must say.” She takes her sunglasses off, revealing thick, perfectly curled eyelashes. “I’ve been doing inventory, and it’s quite the unique situation.”

I’msoready for her to say something stratospherically outrageous. “How so?”

“In terms of quantity, things arenotlooking up. Six men, only three unattached. I mean…I simplyrefuseto hit on the groom.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“The single guys, however, seem to be high quality. Like the NHL player.”

I groan. “Axel?”

“Yup. He isfine. And he came with his younger brother, Paul. Who’s also fine.”

“God, I haven’t seen Paul in years. Actually, he may have become a lawyer in the meantime.”

“Uh-uh. I checked. Engineer.” She scrunches her nose. “He seems really nice, though, which doesn’t bode well.”

“For what?”

“For his ability tonotlatch on to me past the wedding.” She shrugs. “The nice ones fall easily. And for some weird reason, the meaner I am, the harder they want me. Maybe I should just go for the third one.”

“Who?”

“Hark. He’s hot, too. Old enough to know what he’s doing. Above all, if I have one talent—and I have a million—it is picking out the most emotionally unavailable man in a group, and boy, is he the one. I guarantee you, that guy hasn’t experienced a feeling since the nineties. So I might—”

“He’s mine,” I blurt out.

Actually, no: I may havehissedit. Through gritted teeth. Which has Nyota’s slender neck shrinking back and her eyes sharpening.

“Jesus.” I rub my eyes. Say a silent prayer for a nunchuck to rotate my way and take me out. “Shit. I didn’t mean to…”

“Well, well, well.Well.”

“I’m sorry.” I swallow. “That was shitty and a little too aggressive of me. If you want to hook up with Conor, you can—”

“Conor, eh?” She nods slowly. “That’s the first time I’ve heard him called that.”

“Well. Itishis name.”

“Hm-hmm. And when didConorinvite you to use his first name?” Her chin dips. “Was it when you fucked him?”

I burst out laughing. “You mean, in my dreams?”

“So you’re admitting it.” Intrigued Nyota is formidable and unstoppable. Every Nyota is. “Does your brother know you’re into his best friend?”

“He…It’s a very long and boring story.”

“I am a corporate lawyer, girl. My tolerance for boring is higher than the debt ceiling.”

“FYI, nothing has changed since the last time we met. I still don’t understand finance-related jokes.”

“Poor wittle girl is just a fucking nuclear physicist, boohoo.” She shakes her head, and I’m chuckling again. “Spill, Maya.”

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