Page 24 of Reckless With You

“Well, I had a bad day. I felt like tequila was what I needed. Not that I’m ever going to do it again.”

“And did anything happen?” Erin asked, a little hope in her voice. Well, that wasn’t good. There was nothing between Tucker and me. Something I was very sure about, and something I hoped they’d be sure about soon, too.

“No. He just took care of me. I still can’t believe Tucker told my brother.” I grumbled the last bit as I slid the pie into the oven, but I didn’t miss the look shared between my friends.

“Well, I was in the other room when he was talking to Devin. He had to drop something off or something. I’m not sure. Anyway, I don’t think he meant to tell him. More like Devin asked what Tucker did last night, and he mentioned seeing you. It didn’t sound weird or anything. But I don’t think anyone wants to hide anything, you know? We’re all friends. We take care of each other.”

“I know we do. I was just surprised.”

I was not going to mention the whole naked thing, or the fact that he’d slept over. Because by the sound of it, Tucker hadn’t mentioned that, and I wasn’t going to be the one that opened that bag of kittens.

“I’m fine. Tucker made sure I didn’t swallow my tongue or anything. And he took the tequila away.”

“Like a good friend,” Zoey said. “You know what I mean, a friend hands you the tequila, and then makes sure you don’t go overboard with it. You should have told us you were going to start drinking the hard stuff. We could’ve stayed.”

“Totally. In fact, it was because I went out drinking and had tequila that I met Devin again,” Erin put in. “It’s sort of my drink.”

I smiled and shook my head, cleaning up around the kitchen as the girls helped me. They didn’t even have to ask, they just jumped right in, helping me put things away. I grinned. I would do the same for them. It was nice that they felt comfortable enough in my home to do that.

Zoey had been my friend for a while, but we had gotten closer over the past few months. I only knew Erin in passing when we were growing up, but now that she was with my brother, we were close.

I also spent a lot of time with my sister-in-law, Thea, but since she was an hour away, I didn’t see her as much as I would like.

I should drive down soon and go see them. And, of course, get some cake at Thea’s bakery. The fact that I had two bakers in my family now was quite a treat. And though I was the one baking a pie today, and especially considering that it was practically store-bought, it wouldn’t be as good as theirs. But it was fine. I wasn’t going to eat this one anyway. Even if just the thought of it made me want to go back on the elliptical so I could try a slice.

“So, have you heard from Tobey?” Zoey asked, a little cautious.

I held back a wince, even if it felt as if someone were scraping out my heart.

But I would be fine. We would be friends again. We needed to talk.

Eventually.

“No. But it’s okay.”

I think we all knew that was a lie, but nobody was going to say it. It was going to be all right.

“Maybe he needs to see you going out on dates,” Erin said. “I know it won’t be easy, but when you’re ready, maybe going out and having some fun and just being with someone will not only help you but also help him see that you’re over him or whatever.”

“Yeah, that’s a great idea. I’m sure between Erin and I, we could find someone for you.”

I knew that they were trying to help. But the fact that I didn’t know how anyone could help meant that it hurt. I didn’t know what to say, and I didn’t know what to do.

But I would figure it out. I had to.

Though merely the idea of dating someone other than Tobey hurt. I needed to talk to him. I needed it to be okay.

But I didn’t know how to do that.

I didn’t think there was any waytodo that.

“Maybe,” I said, knowing it didn’t really sound like I meant it.

But they let me be, and we talked about nothing. Just pie and the fact that I was bringing it to Tucker later as a thank you. Oh, and tequila. We talked about that, too.

These were my friends, people I could count on. And I would be able to rely on Tobey again, too.

I had to believe that.

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