Page 30 of Unforgettable

I would go over and over every reason why it was a bad idea. I’d remind myself that they were my best friends, that we had all the same mutual friends, and that it was bound to blow up in my face, just as every other relationship had before.

But then I’d remember that they were my best friends, and they knew me better than anyone really ever had and that had to count for something. And the sexual chemistry was off the charts. There weren’t enough words in the English language to describe the electricity I felt in either of their company.

And then I’d loop back again—the bad and then the good, the bad and then the good.

I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted.

I groaned, and like every millennial did first thing in the morning, I reached for my phone. It was a little past eight, and I had a few unread texts and spam emails.

But the first messages to catch my attention were in our “JAR” group text. We were unoriginal, so when naming the messages, we’d used the first initials of our first names: Josh, Amanda, and Reed.

There were two unread texts, one from each guy, but the last message before the new ones they’d only sent a half hour ago was from when we moved Adam in a couple days before. Reed was confirming that he’d returned the U-Haul, and after that, they’d both left me alone to think.

My head hurt from all the stupid thinking.

Josh: These have been the longest two days of my entire life.

Reed: We need a sign of life.

I was impressed they’d left me alone for almost forty-eight entire hours. I expected them to text me immediately the next day asking for an answer, but they were, again, being uncharacteristically patient.

So, I decided to let them flex that patience a little more and wait to respond until I’d had coffee and maybe a shower.

I pulled myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. There were no signs of life from Adam’s room, and while my coffee brewed, I peeked through the partially opened door. His room was already in a state of chaos and disarray—boxes were still half-packed and any items that had been unpacked were thrown across the floor.

Each time he left the apartment or didn’t come home, the sinking feeling in my gut grew. Since it was in the morning on a weekday, he was possibly at the gym with Reed and working his new front desk job. But since he’d moved in, I hadn’t spent more than an hour with him.

I was in a state of constant worry when it came to him, and with him living under my roof, the feeling had tripled overnight. I just wanted him to succeed and do well. To figure out his life and ultimately be happy.

Feeling crushed by the weight of another sleepless night, I made an entire pot of coffee. I poured myself a generous cup, and my curiosity couldn’t take it anymore. I texted Adam.

Me: You at work?

The response came quicker than I expected.

Adam: Ya

I was hoping for more than two letters, but at least he’d responded. Hopeful he was where he said he was, I found the “JAR” group text again and stared at the two same messages.

Me: I’m alive. Although this could just be someone pretending to be me.

It was only seconds later that two new messages popped up.

Reed: Only you would say something like that. If someone was pretending to be you, they wouldn’t outright say that.

Josh: You could prove it to us. Whose dick is bigger? That’s only something Amanda would know. And yes, there is a right answer.

I shook my head and tried to suppress my smile.

Me: That question requires verification on your part. Would you submit to a dick measuring contest? Unless you’ve already done that?

Reed: I’m going to stop this conversation before it gets out of control.

Reed: How are you?

I took inventory of how I was, but the answer was pretty simple.

Me: Tired.

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