Page 158 of The Fake Out Flex

Until recently, I was the one who had doubts about Fraser, that he wouldn't stick around. That because he'd left abruptly once before, he could do it again.

And now it turns out, I'm the one who's created a problem that gives him a reason to leave.

I wouldn't blame him if he did. I'd be just as mad as he was if the situation were reversed.

"Who died?" Bear asks, delivering my next milkshake.

His eyes swing between us, and even in the state I'm in, I can't help but notice how they linger on Summer.

"Man troubles," Beth explains.

"Say no more." Bear backs away. "Let me know if you need anything else."

"Just keep everything coming," I say, bringing the straw to my mouth.

I take a few slurps of my milkshake, stuff some pancakes into my mouth, then say, "Wuh-at am I guh-onnah do?"

All heads turn to Hannah, since she's known me the longest and is well-versed in Evie-with-her-mouth-full speak.

"She asked, 'What am I going to do?'" Hannah translates for the group.

"You're kind of asking the wrong girls," Summer says delicately. "We're hardly experienced in the love department."

"True. But one of us has read about a lifetime's worth of romance novels," Hannah counters, and we all fix our attention on Beth.

Beth turns to me. "Do you really want to plot your next course of action based on what I've gleaned from reading romance novels?"

I slurp noisily on my milkshake, then sigh. "That's currently my only, and therefore best, option."

"Okay. Well…I'll tell you what you don't do," Beth says, sitting up taller. "Hear me loud and hear me clear, ladies."

We all lean in.

"Do. Not. Leave it," Beth says, wagging a finger through the air to emphasize each word. "Do not let Fraser get on that plane this morning without resolving things, because if there's one thing that makes romance readers want to hurl their books or Kindles at the nearest wall, it's the overused, clichéd, third-act breakup due to miscommunication. That has been done to death. Don't be that girl, Evie. You're better than that."

"I'm currently on my fourth milkshake and second plate of pancakes," I point out. "So maybe I'm not better than that."

"Yes, you are. You have the truth on your side," Summer reminds me. "Once you explain everything to him, I'm sure Fraser will understand."

"He's head-over-heels about you," Hannah adds. "My profits have been through the roof since you started dating."

"And the way he looks at you," Amiel sways back into the booth, clutching her chest. "I'm basing this purely on the images I've seen online, but believe me, I'd love for a guy to look at me that way."

"Resolve this," Beth reiterates. "The more time that passes, the worse it gets."

"You're right. You guys are absolutely right."

I shovel in a few more forkfuls of pancakes, swallow it down with an almighty swig of my milkshake, wait until I finish chewing this time, then leap to my feet and announce, "I'm not going to be an overused, clichéd, third-act breakup basket case. I'm going to fix this."

I knock on Fraser's wood-paneled front door and inhale sharply.

I'm a mess.

I haven't slept.

I've been stress-eating.

And I may or may not currently be wearing the clothes I slept in…which also happen to be the same clothes I wore yesterday.

---