Page 79 of Unless It's You
I roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks for the great advice.”
“Maybe you should call him?”
I ignore her. “How was your vacation with Cercei?”
“Fantastic, and now we’re probably breaking up. But this visit is about you, not me.”
“Whoa! Wait, what? Spill.” I crinkle my forehead and finish scooping ground coffee into the appliance. She thinksI’ma disaster in love? I press start and cross my arms. Now it’s my turn to patiently wait for her to respond.
Gemma groans. “Okay, quick download and then it’s back to your problems. We had a lovely two-week holiday in Greece. Hotter than hell, but lovely. Then on the way back on Friday, she started saying crazy things to me.”
“Such as?”
“That she loves me? And wants to move in with me?” Gemma flails her hands around, fingers splayed out dramatically.
“Truly awful behavior.”
“Right? And then, when I suggestedImove in withherfor abit, just to see how it works, she called me out for doing the whole moving-in-with-someone-while-also-keeping-a-backup-flat thing that I like to do.” Gemma uses air quotes.
I stifle a laugh. “She knows about that?”
“Yeah, well, I guess I tell her a lot.”
“Maybe it’s different with her.” The coffee finishes brewing. I pour Gemma a generous mug and grab the creamer from my fridge, handing it over before I fill my own mug.
“I find it harder to date women because I just think of them as a close friend, who I also happen to want to make out with. Men are easier to compartmentalize.”
“Dating a friend who you also want to make out with sounds really healthy, actually.” We wander back to my couch.
“Hmm. I don’t think so.” Gemma snuggles back against the side of the couch, kicks her slides off and crosses her ankles next to my legs, sipping from her steaming coffee. “It’s too much. Too fast. I don’t think I can do it.” She closes her eyes and rests the back of her hand on her forehead, all drama.
“She said she loves you, but do you loveher?”
“What?” Gemma’s eyes fly open.
“Do. You. Love. Her.” Delighted to not be talking about Ethan, I’m enjoying torturing my friend. My friend who claims she’s never been in love, is a serial dater, moves in with people after a month of dating while also keeping a backup flat, and hardly hesitates to ghost said people without a second thought.
“How dare you.”
I laugh and make a motion for her to go on.
Gemma sighs. “Fine. She’s sweet. And hot. And really gets me. I dunno. I suppose it’s possible. Maybe.” She spins a ring on her finger.
“Really? Wow.”
“Wow what? I said maybe. Not yes. It’s probably a no, actually. Definitely a no. I detest her.”
I roll my eyes. “She get that ring foryou?”
“Yeah.” Gemma stares into her coffee, then shakes her head violently. “Girl, this is not why I’m here. I’m here to comfort you. Be there for my best friend. Help you figure out how to fix things with Ethan.”
“Thank you, but I don’t think there’s any fixing this.” I swallow hard, and now it’s my turn to throw my head back against the couch and close my eyes. “And for what it’s worth, I think you’re pushing Cercei away because you’re feeling something real for her, and it scares the shit out of you.”
Gemma makes a grunting sound. “Well. I could say the same for you.”
I sit up straight. “I am not pushing Ethan away. I want to be with him. I...”
“...want to ride his bones?” Gemma stares at me innocently and we both dissolve into giggles.
