Page 20 of Nocere

"No."

"Do you want to see her again?"

I shrugged, glancing at her.

"So, a beautiful woman wanted to spend time with you. What's wrong with that?" She patted my hand. "Text her."

"What would I say?"

"Tell her how you feel about her apology."

"Okay…"

I drew in a deep breath before typing my response. Alex looked over my shoulder, watching every word I typed. Hi. Thank you for your apology.

"How's that?"

"Pathetic. Keep going."

I frowned at her and wrote, I was mad at Ainsley and Jordan, but I'll talk to them tomorrow.

"Not enough. Keep going."

"C'mon. What else am I supposed to say?"

"Do you want to see her again?"

"I don't know…"

"You do know, otherwise you would've said no." She poked my arm really hard and I smacked her hand.

"Ouch. Stop that." I hit send on my response before she could bully me into something more.

I'm glad you'll talk to them. I never meant for things to spiral the way they did, Samirah answered right away.

I know you didn't. Sometimes I get unreasonable, I told her, biting my lip as Alex watched.

"You're never unreasonable. Why did you say that?"

"Because I am."

"Stop it, Rosie. You're probably too reasonable at times." Alex tossed her arm around my shoulders and I shrugged her off.

"Quit it."

"No. Suffer with my affection."

"Uck." I ignored her when Samirah responded.

If I felt my friends set me up, I would've acted the same way. It isn't unreasonable. I understand, she said.

"Do you want to see her again?"

"Maybe."

"Say something like maybe when she's around you can meet for coffee or lunch. Something small. Nothing about dinner or on a weekend," suggested Alex.

"Are you sure?" I bit my bottom lip and she nodded.

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