“Nik . . .”
“I swear. It’s purely physical.”
“Then I should totally encourage May to go after him.”
My vertebrae jammed together. “Why would you do that?”
“Because she’s infatuated with him, and sinceyou’renot attached, you don’t actually care who he gets physical with.”
I pressed my lips shut.
“Right?”
“Right.”
She rolled her blue eyes. “You’resucha bad liar.”
“You know what? Encourage her.” The very thought of him putting his mouth on another woman dissolved my stomach, but at least, it would show me where I stood with him if he accepted. “He’s not mine.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
We stared at each other a long moment. And then she reached around and plucked her cell phone from the pocket of her ripped jeans. “You’re sure?”
My grip tightened on my elbows until the sharp bones felt like they were about to poke right through my palms. “Yep. Absolutely.”
“Sending her a text now.”
“Go for it.”
“Nikki—”
“I’m serious. Send it.”
She tapped her screen, and it felt like my heart had slipped right under her thumb. “Done.” She put her phone back into her pocket. “Now, about Lori . . .”
“Bea asked for it.”
“I know. Nash and I went to talk to her when she was back in skin, but do you honestly think Lori hasn’t done it before? I mean—”
“She’s not Alex, Ads.”
“She’s still a Morgan.”
“You sound like the Hollises.”
“That’s . . .” She shuddered. “Just no.”
“I’m not saying I’m not wrecked by what’s happened, but I don’t think Lori should be crucified.”
“You really think this is her first time?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she said it was, and even though she’s a bunch of things, a liar isn’t one of them. Besides, I trust Nate.”
