“Well, you’re not on your own now. You have Nate and me. We’re your family now.”
She smiles and nods, looking into my eyes. My chest feels heavy as I stare at her. I desperately want to reach out and move the loose strand of hair behind her ear and caress her cheek, but that’s not what friends do.
“Thank you for letting me get that out. That’s the first time I’ve told the story without crying.”
I squeeze her hand a little tighter. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Alex. You’ve been through some pretty rough shit, way more than most people. It’s amazing you’re so well adjusted.”
“I don’t think I’mthatwell-adjusted. I mean, look at me… I have aqua hair and lip piercings.”
“I think that adds to your uniqueness and has nothing to do with how well you are adjusted. I can’t imagine you any other way.”
“Perfect the way I am, huh?”
“Yep, perfect… just as you are.”
She half-smiles, finally breaking my gaze, and looks down at her cell. “Should be good to go with Logan then?”
An unease settles in my chest, and I swallow hard. “Ah, yeah, he’d be a fool not to see the good in you.”
“Just gotta work on my trust issues,” she replies, and I nod.
“Totally get that. After what Kyle did to you, there’s no doubt you’ll have some reservations about having another man in your life. But, Alex, we’re not all douches like Kyle.”
“It’s been so long and taken me three years to get to where I am. I’m not sure I’m willing to risk it all for another asshole.”
“Then test the waters. Make sure Logan isn’t an asshole, and if he is, cut him loose before it goes too far. Plus, I’m your wingman. He has to get my approval before things get full-on anyway. I got you.”
“It’s good to know you have my back.”
“Of course, just like you’ll tell me if Jaci isn’t right for me. We have to be each other’s sensible mind in this internet dating saga.”
She nods. “Okay, you have a deal. When one is getting in too deep with the wrong person, the other steps in and says something?”
“Exactly.”
She puts out her hand, and we shake on it when my cell beeps. I check it, and it’s Jaci.
“Speak of the devil,” I say.
Jacqueline:It’s been a crazy afternoon, but you kept popping into my head. Hope your day’s treating you well.
I grin widely, and Alex chuckles as she nudges her shoulder into mine. “She makes you smile already. That’s a good sign.”
“Logan doesn’t make you smile?”
“Haven’t spoken to him enough to figure that out yet.”
“Okay, well, let’s go to the sofa and chat with them at the same time. We can ask them the same questions and see how they both answer.”
“This is so weird, Matt. But sure, why the hell not.”
We sit down next to each other on her gray sofa with the fortune cookies and our cell phones, and then we open up theLovepessimistapp.
“Okay, so let’s send them random questions and see what each of them writes back,” I say, and Alex giggles but nods as we open the message section for Logan and Jaci.
“So what’s first? Something simple?” Alex asks.
“What about, what was your favorite childhood activity?”
