Page 84 of Entirely Yours
Men.
When I called Maggie to talk about it, she wasn’t much help either. She’s not here and she doesn’t know Jules, so her advice was to take my shirt off and see how he reacts. Really helpful. That’s why I end up texting Cole.
You busy?
Cole
Why does that feel like a U up? text?
I hope you’re up, it’s nine AM
Cole
Some people don’t have any other beings depending on them to be awake on a Saturday morning
Some people like to sleep in and dream about ways to destroy the very annoying man child that won’t leave them alone
Trouble in paradise?
Cole
More like trouble in purgatory
Sounds like you need a girls day
I’ve never been great at the whole “friends” thing, but Cole’s I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude is actually rather comforting. I know that she’ll always shoot me straight, and I won’t have to guess what’s on her mind.
Cole
I’m already in hell, might as well add some fuel to the fire
Perfect, bringing Chloe
See you in a bit!!!!
Cole
You better bring me coffee
Easy enough. I stop by Bardot Brothers Coffee Co., pick up two lattes and a chocolate milk, and make the drive from Jules’ house to Cole’s apartment.
Chloe pounds the door several times before I have a chance to stop her. Cole yanks the door open, her leg propped out to keep an elderly three legged terrier from escaping. The dog catches me by surprise.
“I didn’t know you had a dog!” I tell her, handing her the coffee and reaching down to scoop up the mangled creature. “He’s pretty pitiful looking.”
“He’s on his last leg.” She does aba-dum-tssat her terrible joke. “His name is Ernest.”
The dog looks entirely too bouncy to be named Ernest, but I don’t question Cole’s naming abilities, especially since we’ve adopted a cat named Cat.
Chloe lets herself into Cole’s apartment, looking around nosily. It’s definitely not super kid-friendly with stacks of reference materials and textbooks scattered around the living room. A half-empty carafe of coffee is already sitting on the counter but looks like it might be a few days old.
I carry the terrier in behind Chloe and sit down on the green plaid loveseat. “It’s very dark academia in here.”
“Mmm. I hate that you hit the nail on the head so fast. Maybe I should hang up a disco ball, just to spice things up.”
“A disco ball could brighten up the space,” I agree.
We drink our lattes and watch as Chloe attempts to teach Ernest how to shake, giggling every time he tips off balance.
