Page 68 of Playing the Player

Me: I need advice

Livvy: What have you done this time?

Me: Rude. Why do you always

assume that I’ve done something?

Me: Whatever. Conor wants me to

meet his parents when they visit

in a few weeks.

Livvy: Why?

Me: My thoughts exactly! Why?

Me: I said I can’t. It’s misleading and

I don’t want to lie to his parents.

Livvy: I think that’s fair enough.

I let out a heavy exhale as relief floods me. Maybe I’m not losing my mind after all.

Livvy: How did he take it?

Me: He said I was being ridiculous

and then barely spoke to me the

rest of the evening.

My phone rings as soon as I send that text, Olivia’s name popping up on the screen.

“What do you mean he called you ridiculous?”

I prop my phone against the kettle while loading dishes into the dishwasher. “I said to him we’re just friends and that it’s unfair to lie to his parents.”

“Okay…”

“He said I’m being ridiculous and that I should meet them because I’m his girlfriend to which I reminded him again that I’m not.”

“But, if you think about it…” Olivia trails off, so I wait. “You kind of are his girlfriend.”

“Just because we have sex doesn’t mean we’re a couple.”

“No, it doesn’t. But you don’t just have sex though.” Olivia pauses as she rifles through a pile of Bella’s clothes. “You hang out all the time. You go on dates. You kiss and cuddle. That’s what couples do together, Sash. Not friends.”

I sigh, the words hitting harder when they come from someone else. “He knows how I feel.”

“Does he though? I mean, you tell him one thing and do another. That must be confusing for him.”

“It shouldn't be. I made it very clear about what was happening when we first started this.”

“You also made it very clear that there would be no sex and now look at you.” Shit. I hate it when she’s right. Have I really led Conor to believe we’re more than we are? “Miscommunication is one of the most disliked tropes, Sasha.”

“Oh hush, we’re not in a romance novel, Olivia.”