Page 82 of The Holiday Grump
She glanced at the ceiling, thinking. “They do hang out, I think. Because friends do that.”
“And what are the benefits, exactly?”
She blushed, her teeth skating over her lower lip. “Anything we both enjoy? Just no couple stuff.”
“What’s couple stuff?”
Her smile morphed into confusion. “Umm… hand holding? Or anything else only a couple would do.”
“What, like joint bank accounts? Co-owning a turtle?”
“A turtle sounds amazing! But yeah, I guess.”
My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket. “It’s Jackson.”
That was weird.
I was about to ignore the call, but Noelle grabbed my wrist. “You need to take it.”
“Why?”
“Because friends don’t blow off other friends.”
I stared at the phone, a little alarmed. Jackson never called. Most people didn’t. “But he and I have no benefits.”
“Ha ha! You have a signal, which means it’s a good day in Hideaway! Don’t take that for granted.”
She urged me into the hallway, and I finally answered the call.
“What’s up?”
“Teddy?” Jackson’s voice was full of wonder. “Did you really pick up your phone?”
“Why are you calling?”
“I’m channeling my inner boomer. I watchedTakenthe other day, and people just looked cooler having real phone calls. Like, urgent ones on a tiny slide phone.”
“What’s the urgency?”
The line crackled as he laughed. “Nothing. I just wanted to catch up. Are you home?”
“No, but…” Was I going back home? Was that what a friend-who-didn’t-blow-off-other-friends would do? I’d figure this out.
“Bookstore?” he guessed.
“Yeah. I can come home?—”
“Let’s meet at Kippis? My treat.”
I cringed at the idea. Not because anything was wrong with the small corner bar. I just didn’t want to go out in public, not unless I could hide behind a book and pretend other people didn’t exist.
Which, I now realized, I wouldn’t have to do with Noelle. I could just hook up, quietly, and not worry about any of that. No pointless outings, expensive meals, or other couple friends to entertain.
How had I landed such an amazing deal?
“That’s the worst deal ever!”
Jackson’s hand flexed like it wanted to bitch-slap me.
