“I guess it does,” Sloan says. She looks up at us. “It’s a stupid crush. I didn’t know it would bother me.”
“That’s…” I start.
“Let’s talk about something else,” Sloan says quickly.
We all exchange glances. So, this is…interesting.
Jack is a lot older than Sloan. He’s also a widower, which complicates things. Plus, their family connection would make it…something? Jack is not blood-related to Sloan or her dad. They’re notactuallycousins.
So, yeah, the lost-his-wife-to-cancer thing is probably the most complicated thing.
Oh, and he hasthreeyoung daughters. Who lost their mom.
Whew.
I don’t know if sweetheart Sloan is ready for all of that.
“Thatis what you need,” Sloan says, turning to me.
“What is?”
“You need to date someone. Someone else. Not Everett. We need to set you up.”
She’s clearly desperate to change the subject, so I’m going to let her. Also, she’s drunk so I’m not sure trying to divert this conversation would work anyway.
“I don’t think so,” I tell her. “I’m fine. It’s a crush. So what?”
“So crushes have a way of making you make stupid choices,” Sloan says. She glances in Jack’s direction. He’s sitting in a corner booth with his brother Charlie. “Like not living your life. Not going out with someone else great. Not doinggoodthings for yourself because you get hung up on someone you can’t have.”
Well…she’s notwrong…
“I’m not really in the mood to date anyone?—”
“But you should do it anyway.”
“She might have a point,” Harlow starts.
“No,” I tell them. “That’s not an option.”
“Why not?” Margot asks.
She doesn’t seem to be challenging me. She just seems curious.
Yeah, why not?
I can’t be with Everett. Why wouldn’t I date someone else? Maybe I should. Iprobablyshould. That might prove that Everett is just a guy and he’s not actually the best guy I’ve met in…forever.
“I’m not taking love life advice from you all,” I say, sliding off my stool.
“Why not?” Harlow demands. “We’re brilliant. And we love you!”
“Because two of you are dating mybrotherswhich means you don’t have great judgement at all,” I tell Harlow and Margot.
They just grin, because they know I’m full of crap.
“And one of you is drunk and crushing on her cousin.”
“Hey!” Sloan says, wrinkling her nose. “He’s not really my cousin.”
