Page 73 of Why Not Both?

I look up to see Derek settling into one of my guest chairs.

“Enough of what?”

“You. Spencer, my friend, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

I roll my eyes and turn back to my computer. “You’re such a whore. Who are you even talking about?”

“I’m talking about Lis. I hate seeing you so moony-eyed over some chick who won’t date you.”

I turn back to Derek, surprised at the sudden anger welling up in me.

“Stay out of it, Derek,” I warn, and he must get the message that he’s crossed a line, because he holds up his hands.

“I’m just trying to look out for you, man. You’re practically dating her except you have no exclusivity and you’re not sleeping with her. She could start dating someone else at any time.”

“It’s my choice. If I want to wait around until she’s ready, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“I just don’t want to see you getting hurt.” He holds my gaze for a moment before dropping it to the side. “I remember what it was like. I’m worried you’re going to get your heart broken.”

I sigh and lean back in my chair. “It’s my heart to break.”

He considers me and finally nods. “Fine. But we’re still going out tonight.”

I turn back to my computer. This part of the conversation doesn’t need my undivided attention. “I work tomorrow.”

“We have an early night tonight and a late start tomorrow. The wedding is reception-only, so we don’t have to be here until three to start setting up. And the next two weeks are going to be a gong show. We’re going out.”

I roll my eyes. He has a point, though. We’re booked solid for the next two weeks. It’s going to be all hands on deck pretty much all day every day as we get through these events.

“Fine,” I say, returning my attention to him. “Two conditions: We’re not out past midnight and we invite the others.”

“You’re going to invite Lis, aren’t you?”

“She’s part of the others now, isn’t she? If I wasn’t interested in her, would you invite her?”

“Of course I would. She’s our head chef.”

“Then invite her. Or I will.”

He chuckles as he leaves my office.

Later that night, I meet Derek and Adalie at the bar where they already have sleeves of beer, with an extra one for me.

“Vic still at the office?” Derek asks as I slide into my seat.

I nod. “What about Lis? Did she say if she was coming?”

Adalie tilts her head toward the bar. “We didn’t know what she likes, so she’s getting herself a drink.”

I ache to turn and find her. But I stop myself. Friends. We’re just friends. And the last spot at the table is the one next to me, so I’ll see her in a minute. I don’t stop myself from turning when she gets to the table, though, and I drink in the sight of her. My gaze slides up the smooth skin of her legs to the hem of a silky red dress, over curves that my hands itch to touch, to lips coated in a red lipstick that matches the dress. Her blonde and rainbow hair is caught up in a cascading ponytail. Over the last few weeks, I’ve started stealing her clip, loving the way her hair tumbles down her back when I do. The colours aren’t quite as bright as they had been at first but are still just as distracting. Tonight, there is no clip, secured with some kind of hair tie instead, and I want nothing more than to untie it so it’ll fall.

I clear my throat in order to get my voice to start working. “What did you get?”

“Mojito,” she says, taking the seat next to me.

And then I lose track of the conversation as I wonder: if I were to kiss her, would she taste like mint? I may glance down as she sits and notice the skirt of the dress riding up her thighs.

“Toasts!” Adalie says. She leans toward Lis. “When we go out, we always start with toasts. Everyone has to make one. But it can be anything. I’ll start. To new friends and old ones.” She points her beer to Lis first and then to me and Derek. Then we clink and drink.

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