Waffle strolls by me, giving me a look that clearly says,coward.
Well, I refuse to be insulted by a cat. I push through the banging drums and furious guitar riffs to knock on Pippa’s doorframe.
Inside, Pippa stands by the mirror, holding a silky black dress in front of her. She doesn’t look away from her reflection to meet my eyes. “What?” she snaps.
I lean against the doorframe. “I’m ordering some Chinese. Just wanted to see if you wanted anything.”
She arches her brows. “Oh, so you’re talking to me now?”
Like they always do when I’m nervous, my fingers drag through my hair. “I was nevernottalking to you.”
A lie. A blatant lie, and we both know it—she doesn’t even have to call me out on it.Chinese food,a self-preserving voice pipes up in my mind.Everyone feels better with free Chinese food.
“So, sesame chicken?” I ask awkwardly. “That’s what you normally get, right? Plus spring rolls?”
“Yup.” Pippa goes over to the closet to hang the black dress back up. She pulls out a different black dress, this one long-sleeved and short. She looks at her reflection again, evaluating.
“Cool. I’ll just add that to my order, then.” I bite my lip, wracking my brain for some other reason to keep talking to her. “Your article got you to number one onBelladonna’s website again.”
“People seem to like it,” Pippa replies vaguely.
“Anyone in particular?” I dare her to say his name to me. I dare her to eventhinkabout him after the vacation we just went on.
“I don’t know. Check the forums.” She shoves the dress back in the closet again and grabs,shocker, a third black dress.
“Whose funeral are you going to?” I ask.
“I’m picking out an outfit for James’ New Year's Eve party,” she says, finally turning to look at me. Her hazel eyes are narrowed, a challenge.
“You’re still going to that?” I pretend to check my nails for dirt.
“Of course. Cat says there might be a Hemsworth there.”
I steel myself to ask what I’ve really been wondering. “And are you still bringing that guy?”
The one who really sees you?
The one you see forever with?
Did you mean all that, by the way?
“Yes,” Pippa says bluntly. “I’m bringing Jacob as my date. Unless what would bother you.”
I can hear the challenge under her words, but I don’t know what the fuck she expects me to say. That the sound of Jacob’s name makes me want to dig out my eardrums? That I should be the one kissing her at midnight?
There’s no way. She’s the one who told me we weren’t exclusive.She’sthe one who’s been using me for orgasms between dates with guys she actually considers her equals. I’m not going to humiliate myself by begging her to want me, when it’s obvious she doesn’t.
“Why would it bother me? You can date whoever you want,” I say, shrugging.
And I must have the best poker face in the goddamn world, because I see Pippa’s eyes flash with something like hurt.
“You really wouldn’t mind,” she says slowly.
“In fact, it’ll make things easier for me. I won't have to worry about you bugging me while I find a girl to kiss at midnight.”
Pippa’s hand balls into a fist, and for a second I think she might actually deck me. Then she blurts out, “Fine. If it doesn't bother you at all, then I'll call him right now and let him know we’re on.”
“Great,” I growl. “Fucking fantastic.”
