Page 78 of Ten Rules for Faking It
“What? You watched our show with someone else?” Stacey unfolded her legs from the couch and got up. “I need a moment.”
Everly laughed, heard the water running and was still smiling when Stacey returned, hands clean. She picked up her coffee.
“Question,” Stacey said, leaning on the arm of the couch.
“I’ll allow it,” Everly said, picking up her own cup.
“Have you considered the possibility of getting naked with Chris?”
Her heart went a kind of haywire she hadn’t experienced before. Like she’d taken an adrenaline shot straight to it. In slow, calculated movements that required a lot of effort, Everly brought her mug to her lips, sipped, tasted nothing, and set it down. “I’m not sure why you’re so fascinated with the idea of me naked. Maybe it’s more than a sex addiction going on for you. I’m not running around looking for men to strip naked.”
Stacey sank back into her spot on the couch with a sigh. “Trust me, friend, you’d be far more relaxed if you were. But for real. Was I imagining a little spark of lust between you two?”
“He’s my boss. He’sourboss. We’re becoming friends.” She folded her hands together.
“So, no, I wasn’t imagining it.”
“He’s in charge of our job security.” Her fingers linked together.
Stacey sat forward. “You like him.”
“He’s a perfectly nice human being.”
Setting her coffee down, Stacey pressed both palms flat on the table. “Youreallylike him. ‘Perfectly nice human being’? You don’t like human beings. They talk too much. This is serious.”
Despite feeling like the room got a hundred degrees hotter, Everly let out a deep belly laugh. “You’re such a dork.”
“You’re a dork in love with her boss.”
Picking up the napkin Stacey had crumpled, Everly tossed it in her face. “You take that back. I’m not.”
Laughing, Stacey tossed the napkin on the ground, and Everly did her best to ignore the urge to pick it up. Or flee from the conversation. “Be honest. Do you think Chris Jansen is dreamy?”
Her annoying insides trembled, waking up at the sound of his name. The thought of him. “He’s attractive.”
“Uh-huh. On a scale of one to I’d-sleep-with-him, where is he?”
Everly’s cheeks felt like fireballs. Stacey pointed, making it clear that her expression gave her away.
“Oh my God. I was teasing at first, but do you seriously like him, Ev?”
Picking up her coffee, Everly took another drink, but it had cooled too much to be enjoyable. “It doesn’t matter. Stop. I need your advice.”
“On what? Whether or not to bang our boss?”
She nearly choked on her own spit. “Jesus, Stacey. I’m not banging anyone, and if you say that’s part of my problem, wewillbe fighting, because that’s not what any of this is about. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I’m not happy dating a string of men and figuring out how to act around each one. I thought by thirty, I’d already have kids. That I’d have a loving husband who made me laugh and swoon in equal measure. Instead, I’m dating like a college coed and breaking out in hives every second day.”
Stacey got up and came over to sit on the arm of the chair, putting her feet on the other arm, creating a bridge over Everly’s lap. “Okay. Okay. Breathe. Slow down. I’m sorry.”
She rubbed Everly’s back, making her feel both comforted and needy at the same time. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal freaking conversation? No wonder she hadn’t settled down or found the one.
“Do you want to stop the contest?”
“No,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, she said it again, louder. She realized that was actually thetruth.“I don’t. Stace, last night, a woman contacted me and thanked me for being brave. She talked to me a bit about her own anxiety. I felt like I actually helped someone. I have two dates left, one later today. I think Owen is going to be the front-runner. It’s more than that, though.”
Stacey waited. Like Chris had. No rushing. Just patience. Her heart muscles spasmed as she leaned into her friend.
“I feel good. I’m learning things about myself. I stood up to Simon even though I had to leave after. I hung out with Owenlast night. I invited Chris over to hang out. I made someone else want to be brave.”
