I’m having such a good time that when the evening winds down, I’m genuinely bummed. I’m in the most amazing mood, hugging the guys one by one, breathing out a “Thank you” as I go. And I really am so very grateful.
“So? How was your Thanksgiving?” Lane asks, opening the car door for me.
“It was honestly amazing. You’re all completely chaotic, but I’m kind of jealous of how great of a team you all are.”
“You’re pretty wild yourself. Definitely one of us.”
One of us. Maybe it’s lame of me, but those words fill me with a warm, fuzzy glow.
“We were missing a girl or two, though.” I turn to him. “Why do none of you have girlfriends?”
“Because relationships suck.”
I snort. “They suck? That’s such bullshit. It’s like having a really good friend you get to sleep with.”
“I prefer having girls I sleep with, and a solid female friend I can tell to take a hike whenever she gets too annoying.” He winks at me.
“Wait—do you mean me?”
“You’re my only female friend.” He shrugs. “So yeah.”
“Laney! That means the world to me.” I mock-gasp. “Friends,” I croak E.T.-style, offering him a finger.
He slaps me away, and I keep teasing him all the way back home—and even once I’m in the shower.
“Hey, Lane! Your friend here is just borrowing some of your body wash!” I yell so he can hear me from the living room. “She forgot to buy some at the store!”
I laugh to myself as I lather up.
“Your friend thinks you seem to be shedding a lot of hair!” I holler louder.
I wrap myself in a towel, plugging in the hair dryer. Before I turn it on, I shout out one last time to Lane.
“Your friend thinks—”
The door swings open, and Lane barges in.
“Can you keep it down? The whole town can hear you!” He narrows his eyes. “If I’d known the ‘friend’ word was gonna trigger you, I would’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“Get the hell out of here! I could have been naked!” I shriek.
He looks me up and down, a smile creeping over his face.
“What’s a little nakedness between friends?” he murmurs, stepping toward me.
“Stop this!”
“Your friend thinks you’re being annoying,” he says, taking another step closer.
“Freeze, bitch—or I’m going nuclear on your ass.” I aim the hair dryer between his legs.
“Ever noticed how you always go for the dick, Lois? What’s the story there? Need a little action?”
Instead of trying to fight back, I decide to turn around and start drying my hair without so much as a glance his way. His lips might be moving, but the sound of the hair dryer is drowning him out.
“I can’t hear you!” I singsong, tossing my head back and forth, my bob swaying as I move.
I catch his eyes in the mirror—he’s laughing.
