Page 34 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

“Ugh, too bad. Men suck,” says Sasha’s friend Carrie. “Theyneverdo what they say they’re going to.”

This triggers something in Sasha, and her jaw drops as she sharply turns her head to Carrie. “Did he seriously still not add you on Snapchat?!”

Carrie abruptly whips her head toward Sasha, ripping a foil from my hand that I had just perfectly placed.Yeah, don’t mind me, I’m not doing anything important back here.“No! And he, like,promisedhe would before he left town today.” She plops back heavily against the chair again and pouts at her reflection. “Why is it so difficult for men to follow through and contact us like they say they will?”

“You’re telling me!” I say, shocking myself that I said that out loud.

Jessie looks even more shocked. She paints a little lightener onto a strand of Sasha’s hair, then slowly moves her gaze up to me with sassy lifted eyebrows. “Is this about Cooper? Do tell.”

Carrie gasps with joy and completely turns around in her seat, knees tucked up to her chest and clapping with excitement. “Tell us!”

It makes me laugh how eager these women are to jump into my drama, but I also kind of love them for it. Besides, who else am I going to talk to about this? My only other friend is Drew, and I definitely can’t discuss it with him.

“Okay, well, yeah. So, there’s this guy…my brother’s best friend—” The girlsooooohcollectively, and Jessie just gives a guttural laugh. “Anyway. He’s the best-looking man I’ve ever seen and definitely has women fawning over him at every turn. I thought there was no way he would be interested in me, but then…”

“Yeah?!” They are way too excited to hear this story.

“Well, he sort of started flirting with me. And texting me. And…sneaking me off on secret late-night pool adventures.”

“Shut up. I’m so jealous of you right now. Keep going.”

“And then…I tried to kiss him. And he rejected me.”

“Ouch,” says the choir of women.

“Yeah. But here’s the really confusing part: he was still super touchy-feely with me the rest of that night, even sent me a sweet good night text.And then,about two weeks ago, he came down with food poisoning and called me to come over and take care of him.”

“Did you?”

“Yes, of course I did. And he was so adorable and sweet and laid his head in my lap and slept the entire night snuggling my thighs like they were his favorite stuffed animal from childhood.”

“And then?”

“And then nothing.” My eyes catch on the droopy, wilted bouquet of flowers on my station that I refuse to throw away despite the mold now creeping up the stems, and I correct myself. “Well, notnothing.The next morning we had a stilted goodbye where he almost seemed to regret the night, so I hightailed it out of there, ready to write him off forever, until this gorgeous—well, itwasgorgeous—bouquet showed up here at work with a thank-you card for taking care of him. The card also mentioned that he’d be happy to return the favor next time I’m feeling bad.”

“You said all of this happened two weeks ago?” asks Sasha. I think she’s about to pull out a notepad and pen. Before the night is up, there will be pictures and maps and red strands of twine connecting clues all across the salon walls.

I sigh and wince a little. “Yeah. That’s bad, right? That means he’s not interested?”

Carrie pipes up. “Not necessarily. You said he’s your brother’s best friend?”

“Yeah.”

Both women look at each other and give one affirming nod before saying in perfect harmony, “Bro code.”

“Bro code?”

“Yes, grandma. Even I know what they’re talking about.” Jessie wants to act like she’s not into this gossip, but she’s just as invested as I am. One minute ago, we thought these girls were ridiculous and an insult to women everywhere, and now we are sitting at their feet, begging to be inducted into their super-special club. “Part of the bro code is not dating a friend’s sister, and I’m pretty sure if she’s a baby sister, it’s doubly enforced.”

My shoulders sag because, somehow, I know they are right. Drew even told me to stay away from Cooper. Did he tell Cooperthe same thing? That makes me feel both thankful that I’m so loved and like I want to dismember my brother for thinking he has any sort of say over my life.

“How do I know for sure?”

“You text him.”

“And ask him?”

“No. That will make you look desperate, especially if that’s not the real reason he’s ghosting you.” I take back everything I ever said about this woman. She’s brilliant. Scholarly. Should be teaching a course at a university, because what she’s explaining right now is a way better life skill than algebra. “Instead, text him first—something flirty but innocuous.”

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