Page 69 of In a Pinch

Whipping my head up to look at her, I say, “Your parents better be coming.” Isla’s parents are a bit of free spirits, which is great, but they’ve missed a few big things in the past year. As her unofficial sister by choice, sometimes that makes me a little salty. Isla being the cool cucumber she is, couldn’t care less.

She shoos her hand at me, as if the statement was asinine. “Oh, they are! They’ve never been to Hawaii. So, they are excited.”

“That’s good!” Reaching forward, I squeeze Isla’s arm. “I am excited to finally get our Hawaii trip. Even if I have to share it with your husband now. Just remember, I’m your number one bitch. Cal can be a close second.” Unless they get a dog. Then, he will probably be third. Such is the life of a man with a wife with a best friend like me.

“I think he has come to terms with this.” She mocks sympathy as she shakes her head in solace. “Poor guy never really stood a chance.”

Pretending to pinch my fingers together, I reply, “It helps that he is a little afraid of me.”

“It does, and I feel like that will keep him in line.”

We laugh and I reach over and hug her. I’ve missed this and I’ve missed her so freaking much the last few weeks.

Honestly, I think I’ve missed myself a little, too. I think I let myself get so wrapped up in everything I wasn’t that I forgot who I was and everything that I am. As for Isla, I moved to be closer, and then met a boy and, oops. But I guess that’s how it goes. In my defense, she moved across the country for hers. The friendships that last are the ones that don’t need the constant reassurance to know they are stronger than freaking gorilla glue. This bitch is my best friend, and I dare anyone to try to take that away from us.

We settle into conversation, and I remember I really need to tell her today. We leave in a week for her wedding. So, if I wait any longer, it’ll be too close to her day. The chance of her actually being mad is slim, but just in case, I need time to make it right and have her come to terms.

If this was the other way around, I’d be more upset that she hid it from me. I’m so mad that I’ve been stuck in such a haze the last few months that I couldn’t see clearly. Like, my best friend wouldn’t be happy for me genuinely falling for someone? With no itch to run. Just peace. That is what I feel when I am with Sam. Maybe that’s what has made me open my eyes, seeing I can be happy without all the other things. I don’t know.

My fingers fidget in my lap as I regain the courage to tell her. “Isla, I need to tell you something.”

Her shoulders slump. “Don’t tell me you’re knocked up, too.” I’m guessing she wants at least one friend to have wedding drinks with, so her concern is justified.

My eyes roll, but fair. I have asked her the same question.

Cautiously, I approach the conversation. “I’ve been seeing someone. And I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

She sits up ramrod straight and her face lights up like the sky on the Fourth of July. “Oh, that’s exciting! For how long? Why would I be mad at you for getting out there? I’ve been trying to force you into it the entire time you’ve been here. Could have saved me some scouting efforts at work and at the gym.”

I let this woman play matchmaker ONE time, and she turns it into a pet project.

My head bobs back and forth. “Eh, like a little while.” I avoid the second part of her question because, once she knows more, she will probably pick up why I thought she would be upset.

“Define a little while?” she asks, cocking her head, and her brow raises. She’s catching on to my half-truths.

Clearing my throat, I throw in, “A couple of months. It only got serious in the last month.”

Her eyebrows about shoot to her forehead. “Holy shit. That’s a long-term relationship for you.”

“See, this is why I didn’t want to tell you!” I’m partially joking, but it’s mostly the truth. I haven’t even gotten to the doozy part of this update.

She swats at my leg. “I’m only joking. Who is it?” Just as she asks, her phone rings. “Shit. It’s Cal. Let me get this real quick.”

She hops off the couch and I hear half the conversion, which isn’t enough to understand what is going on.

“I’m so sorry, but I have to go.” She moves to the door, and I follow her lead. “Cal’s car is having some sort of meltdown. Something with the transmajigger? I don’t fucking know. Hetalks about cars like I know anything about them. If he didn’t check my oil, my car would have none.”

She grabs her purse off the back of the chair, then turns, waving her index finger at me. “Don’t think we are done with this conversation. We will pick this back up. I’ll call you when I get my shit figured out.”

Grabbing my purse off the chair next to the door, I follow close behind her, out the doorway, and on to the small concrete pad front porch.

She locks up behind her, blows me a kiss, and heads to unlock her car in the driveway. “Love you! Thanks for coming by! I missed you.” Not waiting for my reply, she hops in the car and is well on her way.

I stand there for a second because that was a rather quick departure. I didn’t even know she could move that fast. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of summer air. Damn, I was this close to finally getting all this off my chest.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I look down at the time. Shit, if I don’t make like Isla and haul ass, I’m going to be late for my plans for Sam.

Tonight is his first night of being the top dog, and I wanted a little surprise for him when he got home. Pride surges through me at the thought of him and all he has accomplished.

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