“I know.”
“Did youcallhim?” She seemed shocked.
“No.We just ran into each other, like, two weeks ago.”
“Cherry, are yousleepingwith Russ Sutton?”
“No.”Cherry grimaced. “I mean, yes. Yes, but not much.”
“Oh my god,” Stacia said again, looking over Cherry’s head. “Wow.Wow, wow, wow.”
“Stacia, I’m sorry.”
Her eyes snapped back to Cherry. “Don’t be sorry. It’s been fifteen years.”
“Yeah, but there’s a code... I think. For these things. Hoes before, I don’t know—men.”
“Wow.” Stacia picked up another chip and pointed it at Cherry. “You know what? This isn’t surprising.”
“It isn’t?”
“No.” Stacia dipped the chip and put it in her mouth. “I mean...” She chewed. She looked thoughtful. “Yes, a little. But you guysalwaysgot along. I could tell he liked you.”
“You thought Russ liked me?”
“Well...” Stacia bobbled her head back and forth. “Not likethat. But I knew you were friends. I knew thatyoulikedhim.”
Cherry cringed. “Youdid?”
Stacia shrugged again. “Yeah, sort of. I mean...” She nodded. “Yeah.”
Cherry felt so guilty. And so embarrassed. She couldn’t even deny it—shehadliked Russ. “Did it bother you?”
“No.”Stacia reached across the counter again to touch Cherry’s shoulder, reassuring. “No, no. He was cute. I knew you wouldn’t, like, make a pass at him. And I didn’t think he’d cheat on me.”
“He didn’t. I mean—not with me. There was never anything there.”
Stacia raised her eyebrows and smiled at Cherry. “Or maybe therewas...”
“No. Stacia. Hereallyliked you. He didn’t even talk to me after you dumped him.”
“No, I know that he liked me...” Stacia sighed, like she was remembering something nice. “That was a good year. I thought I was going to marry Russ Sutton.”
“Oh god. I’msosorry.”
“Cherry, it’s okay—I dumped him. I met someone else.”
Cherry was still grimacing. “I know, but...”
“How did this evenhappen? Where did you run into him?”
“At a concert.”
“And...?”
“We just... hit it off. It was good to see him. He’s divorced. We caught up.”
“And he asked you out? Didyouask him out?”
