Page 19 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

Chapter 5

PRESENT DAY

Rian said that she already knew, but by the look on her face, I don’t think she did.

“Shit. I ruined it.”

She quickly shakes her head. “No, no. I was thinking something along those lines, I was just taken aback by how you phrased it.”

“Is there another way?”

She shrugs, and I bite back an apology. She asked me to admit it, so I did. I’m not going to apologize for that.

“So who is she?” she asks, then gives me a slow grin. “Don’t tell me she’s your best friend.”

“Is that bad?”

Her small nose wrinkles up and she takes another bite of her steak. “It’s just so…normal.” She swallows. “Unrequited love is the most overused trope.”

Boy, do I agree with that. But it’s not my fault it’s one-sided. “Well, in my defense, best friend and love come hand in hand.” I point my beer at her. “You love your best friend, don’t you?”

“I would if I had one, yes. But you saidinlove. That’s different.”

“You don’t have a best friend?”

“It’s the age-old question, isn’t it?” She goes on like she didn’t hear me at all. “Can you be just friends with a person of the opposite sex? Assuming that you are attracted to the opposite sex.”

I think of Lizzie and immediately answer, “Yes.”

“You have other female friends?”

“I do.”

“So what makes this one different? Availability?”

“Even when she wasn’t single, I still…” I let the thought drift off into oblivion. When I first met Theresa she was dating someone. I was friends with her for years before I got the full story about her and her boyfriend, and I fell in love with her while she was with him. Granted, I had no idea just how messed-up that situation was.

“Hmm…So what came first?”

I gulp down the food in my mouth. “What do you mean?”

“Were you friends first?” she says, forking up a juicy slice of steak. “Or did you like her before that?”

I shake my head. “I don’t remember. It all blends. I like her because she’s my friend, but she’s my friend because I like her.”

She points the empty fork at me. “You said ‘like.’ ”

“Yousaid ‘like.’ ”

“I meant you said ‘like’ as in the present tense.”

I don’t say anything. I also said “love” in the present tense.

She takes a sip of her beer, then sets it down, eyeing the modern design on the tablecloth. “I get it, you know. I’ve been bitten by the love bug a few times.”

“How’d you get over it?” She seems so put together. Comfortable and casual, not off her game, and definitely not as knotted up as I feel.

“Easy. When a guy I loved didn’t love me back, I didn’t see him anymore. Distance made me wonder if I ever loved him in the first place.” She flicks her gaze up. “How much distance do you have?”

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