“I’m impervious to you embarrassing me,” Chris said. “I’m just worried about Julie.”
“I knew about Marta’s nipples,” Julie said, deadpan. “I’ve seen her naked.”
Devin snorted beside me, shoving a handful of fries in his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
This was nice. All of us together, laughing and getting along, celebrating Devin’s achievement.Thesewere his real friends. Not Brad.
These people loved him, and he deserved it.
“You’re a lucky woman,” Chris said, nodding to Julie and then looking around the table. “I’m the only man at this table who’s touched a boob, aren’t I?”
A murmur of agreement passed around the group. I definitely hadn’t, and Devin had practically told me he hadn’t. Women hadn’t worked out for him.
Alex, I hadn’t been sure about, but it wasn’t exactly a shock to learn he hadn’t either.
“You guys have no idea what you’re missing out on,” Chris continued. “Boobs are awesome.”
“Hey!” Alex protested.
“You have other awesome qualities,” Chris soothed. “Boobs are still great though, you oughta touch one once, just to try it.”
“High five for boob-touching,” Marta said, grinning broadly, holding her hand up for Chris.
Alex groaned, sinking down in his seat.
“Guess you’re not impervious to being embarrassed by Chris, huh?” Devin asked.
“Yeah, well,” he said, a dark blush under his deep tan turning his ears nearly purple. “I’ve got a lifetime to get used to it, right? Until death do we part.”
“Can you die of embarrassment?” Devin went on casually, sipping his cider. “Might be a short marriage.”
“Oh no,” Chris said. “We’re gonna live to be a hundred and three. We’re gonna be the cutest little old couple at the old folks’ home.”
I wasn’t sure aboutcutest, but I did think they were pretty cute. Sweet with each other, deeply comfortable.
One day, that’d be me and Devin. I knew we could be just like them, and I couldn’t wait to get really,reallycomfortable with him.
Oh, shit. Aiden.
I’d completely forgotten to update him.
I pulled out my phone, half-expecting to see a missed text and unsure how to feel when there wasn’t one. Had Aiden forgotten, too?
He’d always been surer than I was that Devin liked me. Time to admit he’d been right.
Devin came second! And he forgave me. Thanks for the push.
I attached a photo of Devin grinning and holding his medal up, one of what felt like a hundred he’d posed for today.
“That Aiden?” he asked, sitting back and wriggling to get comfortable beside me, his thigh resting easily against mine.
This was nice. This felt like a taste of the future, right here. The two of us justbeingtogether.
“Yeah. Want me to pass on a message?”
“I do have my own brother’s number.” Devin chuckled. “Just wondering if you were passing notes about me.”
I shook my head. “Just telling him you won. And that you’re brave enough to give me a second chance.”
