Page 82 of The Fake Out Flex

"Oh." She adjusts how she's sitting. "What would you like to know?"

"Well…apart from jerkface, have you been in any other serious relationships?"

I know for a fact that she has, but every time Levi's brought it up, I've quickly changed the subject. He probably took it as a sign that I wasn't interested in his little sister's dating life, when the truth was, I simply couldn't handle knowing about it.

Hearing about the girl you're in love with—the girl you've been in love with for so many years and can't get over—dating someone else is about as much fun as a colonoscopy.

Especially when that girl happens to be my best friends' younger sister. Yeah, that's a whole world of pain I'm not ready to deal with. I don't even want to think about Levi's reaction. Given how protective he is of her, he'd likely go ballistic and probably never speak to me again. But that's a problem for future Fraser.

Current Fraser is blocking everything else out and giving Evie his undivided attention.

"I had two serious relationships before Bryce," Evie says, her features settling into a somber expression. "Both lasted about a year. Same as my relationship with Bryce. And then they ended. I got dumped. Something happens around that pesky twelve-month mark. An invisible, relationship-ending button must go off in their heads and, poof, end of relationship. I'm starting to think I might be cursed."

You're not cursed. They're just idiots.

I want to tell her that.

I want to assure her there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. That she's funny and smart and the best person ever to hang out with.

More importantly, I want her to believe it.

To have the self-doubt clouding her eyes vanish. To see the worry leave her face for good. To have her know on a deep, soul level that the issue wasn't her. It couldn't be—because she's perfect.

But I also have to be careful here. Praising Evie is a lot like buying flowers for her—once I start, I don't seem to be able to stop.

I realize my next question may be pushing the limits of the fry oath, but I ask it anyway.

"Were any of the guys 'the one'?"

"Heck, no."

No hesitation there at all.

My chest expands in…relief?

Relief for her, I mean. It's good that her 'one' didn't get away.

"And are you okay now, how things are with…everything?"

She shoots me a friendly smile. "Is that your way of asking if I'm over Bryce without saying his name or calling him jerkface?"

"I have zero qualms about calling him jerkface," I remind her. "But yes, it is."

"I am over it. I got over it at the wedding. When I went over to speak to him, I realized that what I needed from that day was closure. And I got it."

"That's good. I'm happy for you."

"Besides, we really weren't right for each other."

"Oh."

"He was a vegetarian."

I scoff. "First red flag. Nothing against vegetarians. Dawn is one. But you're like a butcher shop, with all the burgers you consume."

"I know, right?"

She giggles playfully, and the sweet sound sends a ripple of tingles cascading down my spine.

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