Aspen scoffs and then whistles and does a horrible job looking innocently at the ceiling. She balances her coffee with one hand and picks a seat on the last empty couch.
“What?”
“Says the married woman,” Aspen retorts.
I don’t think Aspen’s over Marissa’s surprise elopement to Vegas. I couldn’t be happier. Not only are Marissa and Ryland adorable, but her escapade took the focus away from the one-night stand thing. At least for a while.
Marissa leans on the edge of the couch engaging more in the conversation. She’s invested now, which normally leads to trouble. “I tell Ryland all the time. Just because I’m married doesn’t mean I’ve gone soft.”
“Yeah, but then he calls you Kitten and you swoon. You old softy,” Simone says clearly baiting Marissa.
“I do not.” Marissa falls for it so quickly I’m forced to pinch my lips together so I don’t laugh. “Watch. Ryland!” she yells at him where he stands at the café counter talking to Jason, the owner of Cosmo’s.
“Yes, dear.” he answers back, but there’s a smirk to his smile, which has me concerned. Even the smell of the brewing coffee can’t cover up his overly sugary expression.
Finn steps over my legs to take a seat next Aspen right as Marissa yells back, “Stop being stupid.”
Ryland laughs. “I’ll get right on it, Kitten.”
Marissa turns back to my conversation, a Cheshire cat grin on her face to match her kitten nickname. It turns to a scowl when she sees us looking at her, and she’s only half successful as one side of her left lip is still turned up in the corner.
“Don’t call me Kitten!” she yells back at him, but it’s a wasted effort. The girl is madly in love.
Finn leans in placing a hand on his knee and joins the conversation. “Your logic is nonsense. You’re crazy.”
Aspen shushes him. Her grey shirt with a faded image of Mario throwing a red turtle shell at Bowser is obviously from Finn’s half of the closet. “You guys are only allowed here if you stay in your area and don’t interrupt girl time. We’re dispensing valuable advice today.”
Finn looks appalled. “We were here first. None of you would set foot in a comic shop if we hadn’t shown you the cool factor.” He looks pointedly at her with his head tilted.
Aspen smiles rubbing his shoulder. “Yes, but now we are here. So sit there and look pretty.”
“A good girlfriend tells you when you’re being stupid. But if the guy is being an asshole, we’re on that too. We like Grant, but he’s a dumbass, Finn.” Marissa explains it to him again, hopeful he’ll change his mind now.
Finn adjusts his black-rimmed glasses. “In his defense, Grant doesn’t think he’s stupid.” Even I know it’s the wrong thing to say with this crowd.
Aspen pats his knee. “Shhhh. What did I say?”
Marissa’s been very vocal about her feelings on the Grant issue. The situation is messed up, but it’s nice having someone willing to pick up a sword for me. Even if it’s theoretical. At least I hope. My roommate, Drew, is my best friend in the entire world. We ended up in the same foster care home at fourteen and connected, but he doesn’t understand girls at all. Drew believes any problem can be solved with a meat heavy dinner, a side of bacon, and a beer to drink.
My phone rings, and “We Used to Be Friends,” the theme song fromVeronica Marsfills the room.
What? It’s a damn good song. I swipe my finger along the screen and pretend to read the text, but I already know what it says.
DREW:You are lame.
He may not agree with my approach to handling Grant, but Drew is always there when I need to fabricate an emergency.
I slip my phone back in my pocket, cover my face, and prepare to deliver the bad news. Four years of foster care taught me how to lie. “It’s Drew. I need to go home. I’m sorry, girls.”
Marissa looks at me, her head to the side. “But you just got here, Clare.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just… this thing… I promised him I’d do.” I stand from the couch and start edging my way to the door. It is early in the night and I feel horrible leaving so soon, but I can’t see Grant. I made an appearance, and that’s the important part.
“You’ll be at girls’ brunch tomorrow, right?” Aspen asks.
“Oh yes. Definitely. Wouldn’t miss it.”
I’m definitely going to miss it.
