Page 49 of Just Friends Forever
“About them being up to all the tricks.” I wag my eyebrows. Stevie needs some distraction, and what better distraction is there than a really elaborate prank? “I’ve got a meeting with a client in an hour, but we could order in lunch afterward and strategize.”
“That sounds intriguingly nefarious, but I actually have lunch plans.”
“Oh,” I say, sounding more disappointed than I’d like. “Great.” Also less enthusiastic than I intended.
“I invited Maggie Jensen over. Hope that’s okay.”
I scoff. “You don’t need to ask permission to have people over. That’s your apartment, for all intents and purposes. Plus, I think it’s a great idea.”
She smiles. “I figure I’ve monopolized enough of your time, and you might be wanting a little break.”
I take a quick second before responding. Do I pretend to agree to save my own pride? Do I assume it’sherwanting a break and she’s trying to save my feelings by saying it’s me?
Navigating this whole Stevie’s-my-best-friend-but-my-heart-still-wants-more thing is getting complicated. But sheismy best friend, and I want her to know, especially after that picture she just saw, that I’m happy to have her here.
So, I settle for telling that truth in a way that won’t overwhelm her. “I haven’t seen you in four years, Stevie. It’s going to take a lot longer than six days to need a break from my best friend.”
She holds my gaze, and immediately, I’m glad I said it. I think she needed to know that.
“Same here,” she says softly.
It’s quiet for a few seconds as we stare at each other.
She pulls her gaze away and stands up. “I should get ready.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah. Me too.”
“Thank you for breakfast,” she says, taking her plate to the sink.
“Anytime,” I say, ignoring the fact she only ate two bites of it. I don’t take it personally. The past few days, she’s eaten it all. It’s just an off day for her.
Stupid Curtis.
Hopefully a visit from Maggie will help. I like Maggie, and I think she’s someone Stevie can trust. Yeah, part of me wishes Stevie would open up tomemore, but maybe she needs to talk to a fellow woman.
Meanwhile, I’ll be over here pretending I don’t want her to monopolize my time.
17
STEVIE
I don’t getready when I close the door behind me in Austin’s apartment. Instead, I pull out my phone and search “Curtis Carr” on the internet. The first result is what I’m looking for, which means it’s also what a lot of other people have been looking for.
Great.
I stare at the photo of him and his recent co-star, Aria Summers.
There are so many feelings inside me right now. I’m an emotion casserole, and I’ve never liked casserole much.
I feel betrayed for all the times I wondered if there was more between the two of them and Curtis denied it.
I feel validated for pursuing divorce even though, at the time, it felt like admitting defeat.
I feel relief that Curtis is moving on because it means I don’t have to feel guilty for doing the same.
I feel hurt he’s moving on so soon and wonder what makes it so easy for him to move past me.
I’m mad at myself for letting him isolate me from the world for months on end while he was fraternizing as much as he pleased.
