Jenn shrugs and picks up her sandwich. “I’m just saying.”
“You guys, it’s really not a big deal, me sleeping at his place for a few days.”
“As long as that’s all your doing,” says Jenn, raising an eyebrow at me.
My jaw almost falls open. “Have I ever given you any reason to believe I’ve wanted more from him?”
Jenn and Paige exchange a quick glance.
“You two are very close,” Paige says.
“He’s practically my brother!” I protest.
“But he’s not,” Jenn says.
“Just be careful, Em,” Paige says, giving me a knowing look.
I don’t know what ideas my friends have gotten into their heads, but they’re nuts. Originally I was planning on telling them about the whole fake relationship thing, but there’s no way I’m telling them now. It’ll only put more insane ideas in their heads.
“Anyway,” I say, motivated to change the subject. “Enough of my drama. What’s going on inyourlives? Is your car still in the shop, Jenn?”
“Yes,” she groans. “They keep finding more and more problems with it.”
Paige pops a fry into her mouth. “Didn’t you say the mechanic was super hot?”
“Devastatingly so.”
“Now that would be a hot hookup. Grease everywhere, a man who’s good with his hands…”
The three of us exchange looks before we bust out laughing.
4
ROCK
My buddy Wes shakes his head as he tosses the basketball in my direction. “I don’t know, man. Seems like a bad idea to me.”
I take a shot. The ball swishes through the hoop. “Why’s that?”
“You know how clingy girls get. She might never leave.”
I breathe out a half-hearted laugh as I jog to grab the ball before it bounces into the grass. “Yeah, I’m not worried about that. Besides, my place ain’t exactly a five-star resort. I can’t even keep a damn houseplant alive.”
“Since when are you buying houseplants?”
“I didn’t. It was a gift.”
Wes rolls his eyes. “Let me guess. Emily gave it to you.”
I don’t like the way he says that. I throw the ball hard at him and it thuds against his chest as he catches it. “What’s your problem with her, man?”
He backs off. “Nothing. I just don’t want to see her take advantage of you.”
“Take advantage of me? Bro, you’re talking out of your ass.” I shake my head, annoyed at Wes’s perspective. I know he’s had some bad experiences with women, but he really needs to learn that it’s not cool to make assumptions about people. He has no clue about the kind of friendship that Em and I have.
Wes takes a shot, misses, sighs. “Sorry. I’m just in a shitty mood today. Work’s been stressful.”
“That sucks. Sorry to hear.” I grab the rebound and toss it to him. “Take another shot.”
