“Hey. You’re cooking?”
“Yeah, I thought we could do grilled cheese again,” she said. “I made yours without mayo but added bacon and tomato. What do you want to drink?”
Larissa stood in the kitchen and looked confused.
“What?” Harlow asked her.
“You’re in my kitchen, cooking, and you’re…”
“I’m what?”
“Well, you’re my best friend who’s staying with me, but we also went on a date last night. So, isthisa date, too? Or is this just a dinner between friends or a dinner between people who are dating, but it’s not an actual date? Sorry, it’s all very confusing to me now.” Larissa chuckled, which made Harlow smile.
“It’s confusing to me, too,” she replied. “Can I ask you something, though?”
“Sure.”
“Are we dating, or did we just go on a date last night?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Well, we didn’t set up a second date. I know we both had a good time, but I realized today that I was thinking about us as dating, and I wasn’t sure if you were doing the same.”
“I am.” Larissa smiled widely. “We’re dating, Harlow. We can plan a second date whenever you want.”
“Good.”
“By the way, it probably can’t be Tuesday because Samantha wanted me to ask you if you could go bowling again. Something about a pregnant woman not being able to bowl anymore, and you filling in.”
“She askedyouto ask me?”
“She said she’d text you, but I told her that I’d see you tonight and could ask you instead. I was very tempted to tell her that you and I are dating because, well, the jealousy fairy reared her ugly wings.”
“The jealousy fairy?”
Harlow laughed and turned off the stove.
“She’s your ex, Harlow. She’s… seen you naked,” Larissa replied. “I haven’t. So, yeah, I got a little jealous because you two used to date, and you’ve been hanging out again. I know it’s petty, but it’s there. I couldn’t help it.”
“Do you not want me to hang out with Samantha?”
“I want you to do whatever you want. I’m not worried that anything’s going to happen. I know that you don’t feel that way about her anymore, and I don’t think she feels that way about you, but this jealousy thing is new to me, and it’s not rational. I’m better with rational things.”
“You’re doing just fine,” she replied and added, “And no, nothing will happen between Samantha and me. If I go bowling, you can come with me and maybe cheer me on or make fun of me if you want.”
“Apparently, you’re a great bowler, though.”
“No, I’m not,” she said with a little laugh. “Samantha was being nice and covering for me the other day when she told you that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I went to the bowling alley, but I ran into Laurel of all people.”
“Laurel? Yourotherex-girlfriend?”
“Yes. She’s engaged now. Anyway, we were talking, and you came up. Samantha joined us and told me to go tell you how I felt. I left without bowling, got home, but you weren’t here. That’s why I was texting you: I was going to finally confess how Ifelt. You were at your sister’s that night, though, and Samantha figured out that I didn’t tell you after all and covered for me.”
“So, you’renota good bowler?” Larissa squinted at her.
