“You’re not even going to say ‘hi’ first?” I tease, trying to deflect with a sip of wine, but she’s not buying it.
“Please. You didn’t ask me over here to chat about the weather. Start talking,” she commands.
I set my wine down, my hands shaking as I try to find the words.
“I fucked up,” I say, my voice small.
She just stares, waiting for me to continue.
“I slept with Nash…and James,” I say with a grimace.
Mina gasps. “At the same time?! Honestly, Ave, I’m impressed. How was it?”
Stifling a laugh, I say, “No, not at the same time. Although I’ll be filing that image away for later.”
“That good, huh?”
I exhale. “Thatgood. Both of them.”
She gives me a confused look. “I’m really not seeing the problem here, babe.”
“You’re not seeing a problem with me fucking my paralegal and my boss? I’ve been spiraling about this since I got home, and you’re acting like I just told you I got a manicure today or something.”
She shrugs, then takes another sip.
I bury my face in my hands. “What the fuck am I doing, Mina?”
“Living your best life?”
I glare at her, but her smile is so genuine that I can’t help but soften.
“Look, Ave. You’re not exclusive with either of them, right?”
“No, I guess not,” I admit.
“So why are you freaking out? You’re single. You’re hot. You’re getting dicked down by two sexy men. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is that I work with both of them. I could get fired. How do you think it’s going to look if anyone finds out? It wasbad enough when it was just Nash, but now my boss too? Oh my God, I’m the office slut, aren’t I?”
“Hey, don’t talk about my best friend that way. It looks to me like you’re finally having a little fun,” she says. “And after all that wasted time with Pierce, you deserve it.”
I bite my lip, her words both comforting and unsettling.
“I just don’t want to screw everything up,” I say, my voice catching. “Or get hurt. Or hurt anybody else.”
“Avery.” Mina sets her glass down and puts a hand on my shoulder. “You’re overthinking it. Just enjoy it for what it is. If it’s too much, you just pause and re-evaluate. But stop killing yourself with guilt. You owe nothing to these men and everything to yourself.”
I nod, trying to absorb her words. But I’m still so unsure. So afraid I’m going to ruin everything.
I pause, considering her advice. “So you think I should just…keep seeing them?”
“Why not? You obviously like both of them. And honestly, I don’t blame you. I saw James at the bar, and trust me, I get it. Nash is cute, too. Like a golden retriever in human form.”
I chuckle, warmth spreading through me. “Yeah. He kind of is.”
“You’ll be fine, babe. Just keep things casual and don’t overthink it.”
I reach for my wine, feeling lighter but still unsure.
