Page 108 of Selfie

My turn to blow out a sigh. “I see you like a big sister, if that’s not too much to dump on you. I always wish I had someone to be to me what I am to Charlie.”

“Yeah, I get that. I’m an only child. I totally understand. You can talk to me about anything.”

“Good, thanks.” I bring in the food. “I’m here because I need to talk about sex.”

I’m seated in a sofa chair as Avery and Lennox sit next to each other in the sectional, unsubtly nudging each other with their knees. They don’t know who should talk next.

For the past thirty minutes, I’ve poured my heart out, explaining in great detail my awful introduction to sex at UNLV. I ran them through my awkward intimacy-scarce relationship with my ex-fiancé. Finally, I told them about Nathan, soup to nuts. The less-than-stellar start to our working relationship, ourfirst sleepover, moving in, Casey showing up, all the way to my meltdown in the elevator when Nathan tried to go down on me. Then how I lied through my teeth telling him I wanted to just be friends.

I break the ice for them. “Do you think it’s hopeless? Because he’s been cold-shouldering me all week.”

“How so?” Lennox prompts.

I glance through the window to Finn and Dex outside on the patio, buried deep in the Chinese food I brought. Lennox threatened lives if they finished off the pork lo mein, but in an attempt to evade the awkward “girl talk,” they cloistered themselves outside with dinner and a six-pack of beer.

“He gave me the whole week off while he’s out of town. I texted him and asked him how his flight was. All he said was ‘fine,’ then he warned me that IT was coming in to upgrade my laptop to a desktop computer later this week so I can have two screens. I haven’t heard from him since. Do you think he’s punishing me for rejecting him?”

Avery’s mouth twists. “Babes, you told him verbatim you wanted a professional relationship. I don’t think he’s punishing you. He’s respecting what you said.”

I bite into my cheek. “I didn’t mean it though. I really didn’t. I care about him and I feel awful. After everything he shared about Elise, and how hard he’s trying to work through everything to be with me, and I”—I groan in anguish—“I fucked it up so bad.”

“Maybe a big romantic gesture?” Lennox asks. “I think I can get my hands on a jet that writes messages in the sky.”

“Okay, Richie Rich.” Avery scowls at her. “No. Something more sentimental. What’s something Nathan really cares about?”

Good question. All Nate does is work. He doesn’t like to drive. He swims for exercise. He cares about Charlie and her singing. “Oh! He likes piano.”

“Maybe a little piano keychain or a music box that plays his favorite song?”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Lennox adds.

“No. Jesus, stop,” Dex gripes loudly.

We all whip our gaze through the large glass patio doors, surprised we could hear Dex’s outburst. Finn’s wearing a look of exasperation to match Dex’s. They’re both staring at us now.

“How are you eavesdropping?” Lennox asks.

“Windows are open, Len, and you’re talking really loudly,” Finn says. “We’d have to drive down the block tonothear your conversation.”

They seriously couldnot. Oh my God. I’ve been chattering away like a monkey about every single one of my girl problems.Oh, fuck.I just accidentally overshared about my awful sex life with Jesse. I specifically likened him to a lazy gecko when he’d go down on me. I cover my eyes, convinced I’m going to die of humiliation. Yeah, that sounds about right. I was always destined for death by embarrassment.

Within seconds, they’re piling in through the back door and join us in the living room. Finn sits and wraps his arm around Avery’s shoulder, pulling her backward with him as he settles into the sofa-sectional.

Dex joins Lennox on the other side, with a small plate of food. “Here.” He kisses her temple. “Feed my baby while you let the boys fix this.” He says to me, “Please don’t buy Nathan a piano music box. That’s not how dudes’ brains work.”

Finn taps his nose twice and points to Dex in agreement. “Don’t buy him anything. That’s not what he wants. Nate and I have been buddies for a long time.”

“You have?”

“Since college. We mostly lost touch after Elise died.”

Avery runs her fingers affectionately through Finn’s hair. “Who is Elise?”

“His assistant for years,” Finn says. “Her ex was a dirty cop who beat her up for sport. It was so fucked up. Working for Nathan was her first real job because Peter wouldn’t let her work. He didn’t like her going out after he’d mark up her face. Nathan got caught in the middle. Even after she divorced Peter, he was still harassing her, so Nathan moved her and her daughter in with him. They were inseparable. Nathan dated around a lot before he met Elise, but she was it for him.”

Avery presses her hand to her heart. “And she died?”

Finn nods. “Awful car accident. Nathan wasn’t right for years. After her funeral, I didn’t hear from him again until your birthday party. He called me for a business favor.”

---