Page 89 of Forfeits

“I mean, kind of. But it’s fine. You’re allowed to have friends.”

Aiden laughed. “Oh good. You, too.”

“I don’t think I have any.”

“Really?”

“Well, there’s Patrick. Does he count?”

“Sure,” Aiden said.

“Cool.” I wanted to tell him about the conversation in the car. “Lucy asked me if we smashed.”

“Oh no! What did you say?”

“I asked her what ‘smashed’ meant.”

“No!” Aiden started laughing hysterically. “Oh, Fletcher.”

“What?” Tyler asked.

“Fletcher doesn’t know what ‘smash’ means.”

More laughter.

“I do now.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I tried not to tell her anything, but she figured it out.”

“Of course, she did. That girl isn’t stupid.”

“Yeah, well, I wish she wasn’t so perceptive. She knew there was something wrong when I picked her up.”

“Oh, honey,” Aiden murmured, serious now.

“I had to go in and meet the new kitten.”

“Of course you did,” Aiden said. “Is it cute?”

“Of course, it’s cute. It’s a fucking kitten.”

“Sorry.”

“Well, the grandparents were acting all smug, and Lucy was obviously head over heels with the kitten. It was uncomfortable.”

“I’m really sorry, Fletcher.”

“Thanks,” I said, glad to have someone to talk to about it, even if my boyfriend was getting drunk with someone else right now. “I’ll let you go. But I wanted to tell you about Lucy’s embarrassing question.”

“At least you know what ‘smash’ means.”

“Uh-huh. Maybe you can explain it better the next time we’re together. I’m still a little…confused.”

“I’d like nothing better.” Aiden purred. “I’d love to go into explicit fucking detail with you.”

“I’d like that, too,” I said.

---