Page 27 of Charming my Best Friend

Chapter 9: Lucy

“Are you sure this is the one?” Fiona asked, spinning in a circle.

I rolled onto my stomach and looked at her from my bed. “Yeah, I’m sure. Of the shirts you showed me, that is by far the sexiest in the most understated way.”

She turned to look in the mirror. “Cause this is our third date, and I know I already slept with him, but tonight is my chance to leap across the valley.”

“The valley?”

She spun back around. “You know how when you meet a guy on Tinder and it actually goes well there’s that moment when the relationship either disappears like it never happened or it crosses the line into being an actual thing?”

“No, but I guess that’s just cause the valley gets me every time.”

Fiona put her hands on her hips. “Only because you go running and screaming into it so no one can ever get close to you.”

“That’s not true. I let most of ‘em get real close before I run off.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about physically close.”

“So you think Peter’s worth the hassle of a real relationship then, huh?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know yet, but if I let what we have now dissolve, I never will.”

“Fair point.”

“What are you up to tonight?” she asked, disappearing from my room for a second and returning with a pair of strappy sandals.

“Don’t know yet,” I said. “Might call Aiden and see if he’s up for getting some ice cream.”

“Think you’ll break the news about Chelsea?”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t envy you.”

“Thanks.” I propped my chin up on my hands and heard a honk.

“That must be Peter,” Fiona said, grabbing her purse off the floor.

“Have fun,” I said.

She turned and winked as she left the room. “Don’t wait up.”

I heard the front door slam behind her and reached for my phone to call Aiden. I couldn’t avoid him forever. Plus, Chelsea’s infidelity was eating me alive, and I didn’t see why I should protect her when it meant failing to protect him.

Just when I thought he wasn’t going to answer, he picked up.

“Hey,” I said. “It’s me.”

“What’s up?” he asked.

I could hear the sound of glasses clanging in the background. “Sorry I missed your call earlier.”

“Don’t worry about it. What are you up to?”

“Nothing really. You okay? You sound kind of funny.”

“I feel kind of funny.”

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