“Why are you such a good guy?” she asks me.
I don’t want to tell her that I’m usually not, but she makes me want to be better.
4
IRIS
“Wait. Wait. Wait,”Sandy says, placing her coffee mug back on the table as she leans forward. “Let me get this straight. You were stranded in a snowstorm and stayed the night at his place and didn’t do it?”
“It wasn’t his place,” I explain again. “It was an extra apartment his sister has above her tattoo shop, and no, we did not do it.”
“Was he bad-looking?” Mikayla asks.
“No. He was probably the best-looking man I’ve ever seen. He’s way out of my league and I’d bet he’s broken a lot of hearts, and there was no way I’d add myself to that list.”
“Having sex with someone doesn’t mean you’d get a broken heart,” Mikayla explains with an eye roll. “You can get laid and then never see him again. Lord knows you could use an orgasm.”
“I have plenty of orgasms,” I tell her, lifting my chin slightly.
“I’m not talking about masturbating, I.”
“It gets the job done.”
Mikayla folds over, placing her head on the table, and mutters something about me being a moron. “Ridiculous,” she says a little more clearly before straightening and staring at me in disbelief. “You had the perfect chance.”
“Did you get his number?” Sandy asks. “Please say you at least have that.”
I shake my head.
Sandy and Mikayla groan in unison.
Sandy lifts a finger. “But you know where he works.”
“Um,” I mumble, already knowing where they’re going to go with this. We’ve been friends since middle school, and I know them probably better than I know myself. “Yeah.”
“You need to go back.”
I widen my eyes. “No.”
“Yes,” Mikayla says with a devilish grin.
I let out a loud sigh. I wish I were the type of girl who would put her pride and heart on the line to go after someone I wanted, but my past has made sure any sliver of that person is gone forever. “I’m not going back. He didn’t ask for my number either. If he were interested, he would’ve asked for it. I’m notgoing to embarrass myself by going back to the bar to see him. How mortifying.”
“Babe, you need to go after the things you want,” Mikayla tells me. She is never afraid to chase anything, including men.
“I didn’t want the original date you set me up on. I’m just not ready yet.”
“No one said you need to fall in love with him,” Sandy says, like it’s so simple not to catch feelings for someone.
“He was nice to talk to in a pinch and even better to look at, but I think it’s best if he stays behind me.”
“So, are you going to start dating casually again?” Mikayla asks.
The thought of dating makes my skin break out in hives and has me immediately scratching myself. “No. Not yet.”
“How many years is it going to take?” Sandy asks as she stares at her phone. “Oh. Wait. I found another winner.” She turns her phone screen toward me and then flips it toward Mikayla. “Look at this one.”
“Damn. He’s hot,” Mikayla replies.
