Page 58 of On My Side

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Audrey

nailed it

great work.

“Bye, Mom!” Piper yells, the screen door closing behind her.

Audrey

speak of the devil, she’s on her way

Ren

great, i’m already here. came early for some reason, before i could have any caffeine

I read his message over and over again before deciding to send the message I’m concocting in my brain.

Audrey

would you like a cup of coffee?

Ren

from you? always

I roughly place my phone face down on the table and scrub at my face. It means nothing. That plain red heart means nothing, and why isn’t my heart getting the message?

We’re friends. Just friends.

To prove it to myself, I grab my phone again and open the text thread between Eva and I.

Audrey

i’m not sure what the protocol is about like reaching out over the weekend.

it’s not an emergency, but i want you to know i am KILLING it at this making friends thing we talked about. i did it! i made a friend!!!! is he piper’s piano teacher? sure. did we dry hump last night and is healso my favorite audio erotica creator? maybe. but we’re friends!!!!!

Is it oversharing if it’s with your therapist? Maybe, if it’s a text out of the blue on the weekend.

But I want her to know Ren and I are friends. I did it. I made a friend. I think that’s passing therapy in my case.

But there’s a problem.

Friends who feel this way about friends don’t stay friends. And I don’t know if I could take losing another friend.

I’m pulled out of my rumination when my phone dings with a text message.

Eva

Let’s move our session up to Monday.

Chapter 21

Ren

Playlist: Dancing On My Own - Piano Version | Milo Grande

October

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