Page 97 of Ten Rules for Faking It
She’d open up to Stacey, sort through her feelings, get things down on paper, then they’d focus on her friend. It was time to make someone else’s dating life the priority. Two more dates, neither of them firsts, but Everly was ready to wave the white flag, pick Owen, and start living her life again.
Stacey wiped her mouth, finishing off the last California roll. “Rob asked me out.”
“Chris’s friend,” Everly said. A smile tugged at her lips, but she didn’t give in. Her friend deserved happily ever after as much as anyone. If she got all the feels with Rob, maybe he was the one. Everly wanted that almost more for her friend than she did for herself.
Stacey nodded. She was the most confident, outgoing, straightforward person Everly had ever met, yet she didn’t look at Everly’s face. She fidgeted—fidgeted—with the take-out container. The grin started in Everly’s chest, warming it and taking over her face, making her cheeks stretch. She bit her lip to keep from laughing with glee. When she had herself under control, she cleared her throat. Stacey still didn’t look up.
“My little girl is growing up,” Everly said with mock seriousness.
Stacey’s gaze jumped to hers and quickly turned to a scowl. “Not funny.”
“You like him. You always go out with men you like.”
Stacey nodded, stacking her empty container on top of Everly’s.
“Why are you so scared of getting into a relationship that might go somewhere?”
Donning a look Everly had seen only a few times—a false bravado—Stacey swung her hair over her shoulder. “Seemsunfair to take myself off the market just for the possibility of something lasting.”
Leaning back in her chair across from Stacey, who cuddled into the couch, Everly crossed her arms over her chest. “All this time, we thought I was the one with relationship issues.”
Stacey arched her brows. “Dude. You so are.”
Laughter bubbled up. She nodded. “Truth. But so are you. Maybe everyone has their own demons around this sort of stuff.” She thought of her parents.
“Of course everyone does. But we’re not talking about them.”
Everly got up and went over to the couch, curling her knees under her as she sat next to Stacey. “You’re the bravest person I know. Rob seems like a good guy.”
“I agree. A good guy. Not agood-timeguy.”
This clearly troubled her friend. “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”
“A long time ago. It didn’t end well. I promised myself I would worry only about me. That I wouldn’t sew myself into something long term, because nothing lasts.”
“Now you sound like me.”
“I don’t want to hurt someone,” Stacey said, playing with an invisible thread on her pants.
“It’s the risk anyone who wants to find someone takes.”
Stacey looked at her through lowered lashes. “This contest has made you wise.”
Everly rolled her eyes. “It’s hard to take the risk. It makes me feel… almost normal that it’s hard, even for someone like you.”
Laying her head on Everly’s shoulder, Stacey sighed. “It’s all fun and games until someone falls in love, Evs. I like my fun.”
“Maybe it’s possible to have both. The fun and the love.”
“You think I should go out with him.”
Resting her cheek on Stacey’s head, she nodded against it.
“I will. If you tell me what’s up with you.”
“I think I’m falling for Chris.”
“Duh.”
