“It’s not an endorsement of anything. He’s going through a rough patch. I’m someone easy to talk to. That’s all this is.”
“Okay.” She held up her hands in surrender. “I believe you. Thousands wouldn’t, but I believe you because I am the very definition of understanding and . . . what’s the word, Dish? Fabulous. Yes, understanding and fabulous.”
“Fabulocity?” DeShawn suggested.
“Fabulousness?” she let play on her tongue.
“I hate you both,” I said, smothering my face with both hands.
“Have fun, man,” DeShawn said. “Don’t overthink it. If it’s just lunch, it’s just lunch. If it turns into something else, you’ll get a dick in the mouth and that’ll be your clue.”
Mia lost it.
“Thank you.” I shot Mia a pointed look. “Both of you. You are most helpful.”
“Aren’t we always?” Mia smiled. “It helps that I’m also always right. Those two thingscancoexist.”
We ordered food, and the conversation drifted to Mia’s clinic, DeShawn’s team, and the latest episode ofThe Traitors Australia, a reality show they’d gotten me hooked on. We’d already binged all the US and UK episodes and were now devouring the Aussies at an unnatural pace. It was normal stuff, easy stuff, the kind of conversation that reminded me why these two were my people.
But underneath it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about tacos with Skyler.
A bro hangout.
Two friends grabbing lunch like normal people.
Nothing more.
On cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Being a complete idiot, I pulled it out and glanced at thescreen.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Random question. What’s your favorite movie? I need to know for science and shit.
I smiled before I could stop myself.
Mia noticed. “Is that him?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re smiling at your phone as though Lady Gaga just called,” DeShawn said.
“I’m smiling because he asked a funny question. That’s allowed, isn’t it?”
“Uh-huh.” Mia sipped her mimosa with exaggerated innocence. “Sure, babe. Just friends.”
I ignored her and typed my reply.
Me: For science? Or shit? Can’t be both. In either case, I need to consider my answer. This feels like a test.
PuckingSkylerShaw: It is a test. As the wise man in Indiana Jones once said, “Choose wisely.”
Me: That’s not the quote, but whatever.
Me: The Princess Bride. Final answer. Lock it in.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Oh thank God. If you’d said something pretentious, I was going to have to cancel tomorrow.
Me: Never. I’m a man of taste and culture.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Clearly. This is why we’re friends.
