Page 128 of For the Love of Art

I scrunched my face. “Are we seriously going to eat that?”

Lianne sniffed it, then let out a disgusted grunt. “Oh, she’s ripe.” She took a knife and started to slice.

“You make that face and expect me to eat that?” I protested.

“We are cementing our friendship in disgusting cheese. Nothing says forever like vomiting up the same food,” Lianne declared.

She handed me a slice of cheese, determination on her face.

I sighed. “Fine.”

We touched our cheese together and then put it in our mouths. My eyes instantly burned. The flavor was sharp, salty, and… funky.

“That was the worst thing I’ve ever put in my mouth,” Lianne said after she swallowed. “And I have tasted very sour jizz before.”

“I take back my apology. You can hate me again.”

Lianne laughed, and I joined her.

“Oh, good!” Frankie walked into the shop. “You two are laughing. You’re friends again, right?”

“We were never not friends,” Lianne said. “There was just no point talking when all I could think to say was, ‘how could you keep that from me?’”

I pressed my lips together, guilt building inside me again.

“But you’re okay now?” Frankie asked carefully.

Lianne nodded. “Better than okay.”

I smiled.

“Well, good.” Frankie straightened a few boxes of crackers. “I’m glad everything is out in the open.”

“Not everything,” I said. “Part of why I stopped by here today is because I have news.”

“You and Nathan got back together?” Frankie asked.

He and Lianne both looked hopeful.

I shook my head. “No. He still won’t talk to me.”

Both their faces dropped.

“Well, what other news could there be?” Lianne asked.

“I just left Mount Sinai.”

“Oh my God!” Frankie exclaimed. “Are you okay?”

“Nathan gave her an STI. That fucker.” Lianne slammed the counter.

“Oh my God! No!” I shook my head vigorously. “Why would you think that?”

Lianne shrugged. “I assumed he’d send you to the nicest hospital to treat it. He’s an asshole for giving it to you, but he seems like he’d be a gentleman about it.”

I shook my head again. “No. This has nothing to do with Nathan. I was with Don and Marissa.”

“What?” Frankie shrieked so loud my ears rang.