Page 77 of Ten Rules for Faking It
“We’re fine, Evs. Even if we weren’t, we’ll always be fine. There’s nothing we can’t get through. You’re my girl. You know that. You’re quirky as hell, and I love you. All those little idiosyncrasies you, for some reason, dislike about yourself are just a small part of why I love you. You’re for real, Evs, and so is our friendship. Don’t ever doubt that. Ever. Or I’ll kick your ass.”
Everly laughed, tears filling her eyes.No tears.
Stacey’s expression softened along with her voice. “I wish I could help you loosen up, stop your brain from spinning. Not because it bugs me but because I see how hard it is onyou.You’re exhausted, babe. But I’ll always be here for you. Just as you are. You accept me, I accept you. That’s how this works. Now, do you want to lose out on a doughnut? Because you’ve been warned. No more mushy stuff. Spill it. Did you get naked with someone?”
Everly was leaning forward for the doughnuts and nearly fell at Stacey’s words. She sputtered unintelligibly before saying, “No. Of course not.”
Stacey grabbed one of the chocolatey pieces of goodness and brought it to her mouth, saying just before her bite, “This may be part of your problem and why you have so many quirks.”
Picking up her own doughnut, Everly licked chocolate off her index finger. “I disagree, but regardless. Guess who I ran into last night? Never mind. Guessing takes too much time. Owen. Bachelor number one. He was in the grocery store, which I stopped at after I visited Mom at her office, and he asked me to go for a drink.”
Watching her friend’s jaw drop open was mildly satisfying. “But no naked?”
Huffing out a breath, she took a bite. “Of any sort.”
Pointing with her doughnut, Stacey asked, “Your mom was at the office? I’m scared to ask. What was it this time?”
Everly cringed. “Nude paintings.”
Stacey slapped a hand over her mouth, then moved it. “Of herself?”
“No!” Everly shuddered. “Actually, that might have been better. She’s taking a course on how to draw people in their birthday suits. Only the one she drew looked more like he was wearing a wrinkled bodysuit.”
Stacey burst out laughing. “I’m oddly intrigued and kind of want to see it.”
Everly waved a hand, not wanting to get into that conversation. “You don’t. Trust me. Save yourself.”
“Okay. Was Owen still dreamy at second glance?”
It was easy to smile when she thought about him.That’s a good sign.“He was. Also, he was still sweet, funny, and charming.”
Stacey sat straighter. “I think you’re smitten.”
“I could be.” She had a strong suspicion he was going to be the one she chose.
“Did you at least want to get naked?”
Everly sank into the chair, breaking off a chunk of doughnut. “Are you secretly a sex addict?”
Polishing off her own treat in record time, Stacey made loud, sucking motions while cleaning off her fingers. “I can neither confirm nor deny.”
“That’s exactly what someone who was secretly addicted to sex would say.”
Stacey shook her head. “You can’t know that. Anyway, this isn’t about me.”
“No. It’s about me, who never goes out and somehow ended up on a date last night and has another date tonight.”And has a secret crush on our boss.In her mind, she slapped a hand over her mouth. Where had that thought jumped in from?Uh, reality?God, she hated her brain.You do not like Chris. You do not like Chris. He’s your buddy. Like Stacey. Your kickboxing partner. Who looks delicious both before and after a workout. Shut up.Why did her brain never listen?Owen. You want Owen. Owen would look good after a workout, too.
“It’s about time. You deserve to play the field and see what’s out there for you. One of these guys is going to give you tummy flutters. I can feel it.”
Ha. The wrong one.“I don’t know, Stace. I had a panic attack the other night. That’s why I had to reschedule.”
All humor fled from Stacey’s gaze. “Dude. You’re supposed to call me when these things happen. Why didn’t you?”
Everly shrugged.Because it never stops being embarrassing? I called Chris, and he came over. I… lost track of everything else.
“What did you do?” Stacey grabbed a napkin, wiped her hands, and then crumpled it up, tossing it back on the table.
“Chris actually came over. We watchedVeronica Mars.”
