“Disgusting ice creamis an oxymoron.Get a spoon, and Imayallow your grubby fingers to grace the lip of my carton.”
Gen hoists herself from the couch and shuffles into the kitchen.The sound of drawers opening and closing and dishes clanking in the sink comes from behind.There are no clean spoons.I know this because I took the last one.If she succeeds in finding a clean spoon, I will happily donate my firstborn child to?—
Gen enters the living room holding up a spoon like it’s a trophy.It’s bent at a sixty-degree angle with divots on the sides from the garbage disposal, but it’s legit.
Damn.Bye-bye firstborn.
She plops next to me, digs a massive scoop from my carton, and jams it in her mouth.Easing the spoon out, she considers her warped utensil.“I met someone.”
Ahhh, so that’s what this is about.Sounds promising.I can almost forget my Eric misery with this news.
“He didn’t talk to me.”
Okay, maybe not so promising.“And why is he of interest?Steer clear of the A-holes, Gen.We’re looking for good guys.”
“I know—believe me, I know.”
“But?”
“He kept looking at me, like he couldn’t help himself, and then I realized one of the girls at the party is his girlfriend.”
I choke on a drizzle of butter pecan running down my throat.“Oh God, no.Please tell me you are not interested in this guy.I thought the last one was an anomaly.Are you attracted to two-timing bastards, or something?”
Gen angles her head, her expression exasperated.“Let me finish.Once I realized he had a girlfriend I wrote him off, okay.But?—”
Oh, no.Nooo.She’s rubbing the sharp divots in her spoon as if to smooth them out, her train of thought lost.I’m afraid to think where this is going, and refrain from exploding all over her ass by a hair.The last thing she needs is the situation she escaped.
“—we sort of ran into each other in the hallway, like literally, we bumped into each other.”She turns to me, her eyes searching my face.“Cali, I’ve never felt that before.When he touched me… God, I don’t know how to explain it.”
Oh, I think I know.I grind my teeth, vividly remembering when Jaeger caught me from falling out of the fishing boat and time stopped.Hormones—pheromones—whatever.Lots of them wreaking havoc.
This is not good.It’s all wrong.Neither of us should be feeling this way.Not with these two people.It’s my stupid advice coming back to bite me in the ass.I pushed Gen to get out into the dating world and look what’s happened.If she hooks up with A-hole number two, it’ll be all my fault.
She shakes her head.“I’ve never felt that kind of attraction.Not with anyone, especially not my ex.I can’t stop thinking about this guy.”Her petite nose scrunches.“It’s annoying.”
I hear you, sister.
I shift until I’m square with her.“Listen to me.Forget that guy.He’s no good or he wouldn’t be staring at you with his girlfriend in the room, and rubbing on you?—”
“He didn’t?—”
“Whatever.Point is, you have the power to choose.You don’t have to fall in love with someone who will break your heart.That’s not love.”
She sniffs in a deep breath and nods.
“Don’t forget Mason and Jaeger.They’re both hotandsingle.Very important detail right there.”
Gen looks at me as if she’s miffed.“It’s not like Iwanteda cheating boyfriend.”Her voice catches, and now I feel bad.
I put my hand on hers.“No, but not all guys are trustworthy, and you need to be careful.Stay away from the ones who give you”—I shake my head and look around—“I don’t know, a gut feeling that they’re hiding something.There’s a good chance they are.”
A vision of Eric flashes in my mind.I should take my own advice.
“You’re right.”
I watch her, trying to detect what’s going on inside her pretty head as she chews the corner of her lip.“Eat more ice cream—it’ll make you feel better.”
Gen digs her warped spoon into my carton, and I do too.Sugar-shock therapy after the evening we’ve both had is in full effect.
