“Hang on, let me turn my TV off. I feel like this is going to require my full attention.” She sets the phone down, and I’m staring at the ceiling of her apartment for a minute before she returns, lying on the couch and holding the phone overhead. “All right, let’s hear it.”
I tell her everything. From living with Bast to where I really work and what’s been going on between the two of us. She’s silent the entire time, only interrupting me here and there to ask pertinent questions.
When I finally finish, she bolts up into a sitting position and grins at me. “Hattie Sinclair, you sneaky, sneaky woman. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
I’m shocked. I thought for sure she’d lecture me and tell me that I had to be careful like she did when I first told her I was coming out here. “I thought you’d be upset or tell me I’m being an idiot and that I need to be careful.”
“Well, I still think you need to be careful, but it sounds like this guy only has your best interests at heart. He doesn’t judge you, and he makes sure you’re okay with everything before you guys do anything. I’m glad you have someone out there who’s looking out for you. Now for the real question, does your boyfriend have a brother?”
We both laugh, but I can’t let her think I was saying this is something it’s not. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“He’s notnotyour boyfriend, though.”
“Is this what people do? Sleep with people before they’ve figured out what’s going on between them?”
Taylor shrugs. “All the time. But it doesn’t mean you have to. If you want to know what’s going on, ask him.”
I sigh and stare at the ceiling. “I guess.” I’m afraid I’ll come off clingy or needy—or even worse, like a child. Bast is probably used to dating women older than me, women who know the score.
There’s a knock on the bedroom door.
“Hang on a second,” I tell Taylor, then call out for Bast to come in.
He opens the door and strides into the room. “Oh, sorry, you’re still on the phone. I was wondering if you’d fallen asleep.” He thumbs over his shoulder. “I’m going to make myself a hot chocolate float before I head to bed. Wanted to see if you want one.”
Bast made me one a couple of nights ago, and it was so good. It’s like a combination of dessert and a drink.
I smile at his thoughtfulness. “Yes, please.”
“I’ll have one too,” Taylor calls.
I know exactly what she’s doing, and I might be annoyed with her if I hadn’t been keeping so much from her since I arrived.
“Who’s that?” Bast makes his way over to the bed, and I turn the phone so that he can see the screen.
“This is my best friend, Taylor. Taylor, this is Bast.”
He smiles at her. “Good to meet you, Taylor. I promise that if you come to visit Hattie, I’ll make you one.”
“Deal!” I can hear the elation in her voice at having her plan work and to have gotten a glimpse of the man I was just going on and on about.
I look at Bast. “Just let me say goodbye and I’ll be right out.”
He winks at me. “All right.”
I turn the phone back around and look down at it.
“Oh my god,” she mouths.
One glance at the door tells me that Bast is out of the room. “Okay, he’s gone.”
“Holy shit, Hattie. He is fucking hot!”
“Shh!” I glance back at the doorway to make sure Bast is still gone.
“I can see why you’re doing what you’re doing. No judgment from me.” She laughs. “I’m happy for you, girl. You’re the best person I know, and you deserve to be able to explore this side of yourself.”
“Thanks, Tay. I feel better now that you know everything.”
