Page 129 of Becoming Selfish

“Bertoli.”

“Last name, huh?” She takes a seat at the kitchen island.

I make my way to the coffee maker, turning on the magic machine.

“You call me by mine. I thought it only fair to call you by yours.”

“Well, I’m not gonna call you ‘EJ,’ and we both know you like that Logan is the only one who calls you ‘Eli.’”

I give her a shrug. “Touché.”

“So even though we are kinda-sorta friends now, I’m still gonna call you ‘Maddison.’”

“Aww, Ali,” I say in my highest of tones. “I think we are kinda-sorta friends now too,” I tease, causing her to roll her eyes at me.

Grabbing the creamer from the fridge, I put a splash in Logan’s coffee. She hates the bitterness of black coffee, but that’s the only way I’ll drink it.

“So, are you going to make me some of those pancakes you made for Logan yesterday?” Ali asks from her seat at the island.

“Absolutely not.”

“What the hell? I thought we were kinda-sorta friends now?”

“Yeah, and I don’t make breakfast for my kinda-sorta friends.”

“No, you just make breakfast for pretty little things you’re in love with,” she says, dragging out the word, teasing me, and stopping me in my tracks.

“Whoa, what?” I ask, taken aback.

“What?”

“Who said I was in love with Logan?” I ask in an almost whisper. “Did Marc say something?”

“How am I the smartest and the funniest in our friend group? Seriously, I can’t do everything around here.”

I stay silent, waiting for her to answer me.

Ali rolls her eyes. “No, you caveman. No one said anything. But you’re pretty obvious. It’s been apparent for a while. What I don’t get is why you haven’t told Logan yet.”

It’s not that Ali is wrong. In fact, she’s one hundred percent correct that I’m in love with Logan. But still, I want Logan to be the first to hear the words from me.

“Has she said something about it?” I ask, my voice even quieter, hoping Logan can’t hear me from my room upstairs.

“I’m not saying a word.” She holds her hands up in defense. “Even though you and I are kinda-sorta friends now, she’s still my girl, so I’ll pick her over you every time. Sorry, Maddison.” She shrugs, not seeming all that sorry, which makes me laugh.

“I actually really appreciate that about you, Ali. I’ve never told you that, but I’m glad Logan has you.”

“Maddison, are you getting soft on me?” she asks, giving me shit.

I scoff. “Fuck no.”

She gives me a knowing smile. “I’m glad she has you too.”

I hold out my fist across the kitchen island as Ali connects hers with it.

“Honestly, thank god that Logan and Marc have the two of us. They’re too sweet sometimes,” she says.

“Damn straight. And thank god they’re as nice as they are. Could you imagine four of us?” I motion between her and me. I know I can be an asshole, and Ali is as fiery as it gets.

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