Rachel grew teary-eyed. “Aw, that’s so sweet.”
“It’s nice having the house all to myself.”
“Oh?” Rachel’s eyes narrowed.
“Yeah, there are no weird noises or smells. And I can use your room as my love nest so I don’t contaminate my bed with boy germs.”
“Love nest?” Kenzie did her best not to laugh as she sketched ideas for a local organic food company’s new branding logo.
“Well, I could call it my harem. Did you know in the romance books, reverse harems are now a thing?”
“Wait. What?” Rachel leaned forward. “What’s a reverse harem? Have I read any of those?” Rachel and Lila, being huge book nerds, regularly swapped and shared books.
“Yeah, they just called them something else before. Reverse harems are when there’s a group togetherness, but the woman is in the center of it instead of the guy.”
“So polyandry instead of polygamy,” Kenzie explained.
“Well, yeah, but not everyone’s about getting married. Just about getting a little some-some. Right?” Lila winked.
Rachel snorted. “Oh please. If you got as much action as you talk about, you’d be nothing more than a glossy toilet seat getting so much ass.”
“That is beyond gross.” Kenzie grimaced, thinking the logo needed more curve, more pop.
“And sadly true.” Lila sighed. “I need a man, ladies. We need to go out and find me one. Oh, and one for Kenzie goes without saying if she’s not going to go after your MMFA, Rach.”
“Um, no. I don’t think—”
Lila talked over her. “Come on, Rachel. Doesn’t Will have one decent friend for me or Kenzie?”
“Oh no.” Rachel shook her head. “The last time we tried to set you up, you scared the guy. Will told me he only has so many friends.”
Kenzie stifled laughter when Lila glared.
“Bull. That guy wasn’t scared. He was an asshole, trying to play me while having two other ladies on the side. So sorry I’m not willing to be a stand-in while he tries to do better on his weekends with someone else. And let’s be honest, no one can do better thanmoi—theLila Richards.”
Kenzie nodded. “Will’s friend was clearly deluded.”
“He’s not Will’s friend anymore. Just a coworker. Thought I should clear that up.” Rachel took the sheet Kenzie handed her and started working on it. “But back to my MMFA…”
“Stop! Look, I know you guys mean well, but—”
“But you called me just yesterday Brycing,” Lila said bluntly. “And you haven’t done that in months.”
Rachel glanced at Lila. “She did?”
Lila nodded and made a face. “Yep. Bryce. Bryce. Bryce.” She walked over and smacked Kenzie on the arm.
“Hey. What was that for?” Kenzie rubbed her shoulder.
“This is called aversion therapy.” She started smacking Kenzie again. “Bryce.” Smack. “Bryce.” Smack. “Bryce.” Smack.
“Would you stop?” Kenzie slapped her hand away.
Rachel laughed like a loon.
“Well, it’s working, isn’t it? Now when you hear the name Bryce”—Lila tried to punch Kenzie on the shoulder again, but she dodged out of the way—“you’ll think of how much you hated me punching you instead of how much you miss that dickhead.”
“He was such a tool.” Rachel shook her head.
