“Why not?”
“Becausehe’s Asher Cross. He should text me.” She laughs, but it fades. “He hasn’t said a word, Rorie. Nothing.”
I study her. “Then you should reach out.”
“I can’t.”
“Don’t sit here doubting yourself. May, he kissedyou.Not anyone else.”
She nods, quiet now.
I frown, not liking where her thoughts are going. “Maybe he’s trying to figure outhowto go there with you without completely damaging his career. Because let’s face it, dating you in secret forever isn’t exactly an option.”
She exhales, nodding but still looking uncertain. “I don’t know, Rorie. I… I can’t get past the feeling that I don’t belong in his world.”
I study her. “That’s exactly why he’s interested in you. Because you’renotpart of that world.”
Her eyes narrow. “Okay, back toyou.What’s next with Nolan Rhodes?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“I’m serious. We had wine. We talked. We kissed. He left.”
“Yeah, and you haven’t stopped thinking about him since.”
I open my mouth. Nothing comes out.
“Exactly,” she says. “Don’t lie to yourself, babe. You like him.”
“Nolan’s a complication. I can’t like him.”
“There you go…lying to yourself again.”
“Which is exactly why we’re going out tonight.” I wink.
“Where?”
“Does it matter? I need to reset. I need to purge whatever twisted, confusing emotions are battling for space in my head. I need to get laid.”
“Um—what?”
“Yes. It’s all suddenly so clear,” I tell her. “The reason my brain is on overdrive is because I have so much pent up inside. You know? I need one meaningless night. No strings. No complications. Fill my horny bucket and move on. Get the poison out, you know?”
“Rorie, I don’t think?—”
I send an invite to Jeremy to join the group chat. He pops on immediately.
“We’re going out tonight,” I say. “Two reasons. One, we need to celebrate landing Pitchpocalypse. Two, I need to be carefree and frisky.”
Jeremy taps his chin with exaggerated thoughtfulness, his eyes glinting with anticipation. “And when you saycarefree and frisky…”
“She means she needs to get laid,” Maya deadpans, not even looking up from her phone.
“All in.” Jeremy claps once and rubs his hands together like a cartoon villain with a flawless plan. “Let’s go make morally questionable, potentially reputation-damaging choices!”
“Exactly,” I say, already walking out the door. “Tonight, I’m turning off the part of my brain that overthinks every damn thing and letting my vagina take the wheel.”
