Page 109 of The Perfect Love

With my frustration fading, I get out of my car, ready to see my girl. She’s done nothing but text me flirty things since last night, and I get the sense she might want to play a little today. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m here for whatever she wants to give me.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and head up to her apartment. I walk in without knocking because we’re officially at that place now, but the first thing I hear is Chelsea grumbling. I find her pacing the small kitchen, tapping furiously on her phone before dropping it roughly on the counter while muttering something under her breath.

I set my bag down, then walk over and wrap my arms around her. “Okay, who hurt you, and where can I find them?”

She laughs and loops her arms around my neck. “I love when you say sexy things like that.”

I quickly kiss her, then reach over and tap her phone with my pointer. “Seriously, what’s wrong?”

She sighs and unlocks the phone, then slides it into my hand.

“Had a lovely conversation with my supposed friends back home, and I’m just… mad. I’m mad at them. I’m mad at myself.” She waves a hand. “Just read it.”

Apparently, it’s a bad night for texting.

I scan the texts and my blood pressure immediately rises.

Bridget: Tell me you’re coming to my EPIC 21st birthday party. I just saw you RSVP’d as maybe. Maybe you’ll come to the hottest party of our lives?

Chelsea: I’m sorry. I have a friend’s wedding to go to this weekend.

Bridget: Since when do you have other friends?

Lex: I think you mean why does she NEED other friends?

Chelsea: There’s no such thing as too many friends. I’ve made some great ones here, and I already agreed to go to their wedding.

Bridget: Ugh. Are these your boyfriend’s friends?

Chelsea: They’re my friends. Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t be there, but I hope it’s amazing.

Bridget: Well, duh. All my parties are. You’re the one missing out on all the fun.

Lex: Chelsea doesn’t like to have fun anymore, remember?

When I set the phone down, Chelsea throws her hands up and starts pacing again.

“I responded maybe because I was going to see how the timing worked out with the wedding, in case I’d have time to stop by, but after all that, I don’t even want to. I want to respond no, I don’t like having their kind of fun anymore, since their kind of fun involves getting shit-faced. Like I want to drink and party after a guy drugged my drink at a fucking party. Which they have never been able to understand! And that just makes me mad at myself because I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t freaking care.”

She yells in the direction of the phone, and again, I pull her into my arms.

“How long have you been friends with them?”

She snorts at that. “Most of my life.”

“So you have a lot of memories with them?”

She nods against my shoulder. “Yeah. Some really great ones.”

“It’s okay to have mixed feelings about that. I’ve been through similar stuff with my childhood best friend, and I haven’t cut him out. I’ve distanced myself, but he hasn’t even noticed we’re not as close anymore. Some people struggle to see outside of their own selfish wants and needs. That’s no excuse, but it’s understandable why it’s hard for us to shut down a lifetime of memories. It’s okay for you to take your time and figure it out. It’s also okay to yell at them if you want to. Or be honest about your feelings.”

She laughs weakly. “Here I was expecting you to tell me to cut them out or tell them to fuck off because they’re not really my friends.”

That makes me laugh. “I get how complicated it is. But for the record, no, they don’t seem worthy of your friendship or seem like good friends to you. You were the one to remind me I can’t make anyone else’s decisions for them. I’m not always great at that, but I’m trying to do better. That said, if I meet them at any point, I will be pleasant, but I won’t be patient. If they say that shit in front of me, I won’t hold my tongue. Because seeing you hurt sets off the irrationally angry and ferally protective side of me. I’ll cut a bitch—with words, unless you’re physically threatened.”

Her smile is bright as she presses onto her toes to kiss me. “There you go, saying sexy things again.” She shakes her head and shoves her phone away. “Enough of all that. It’s taking away from the surprise I have for you.”

“You have my attention.”

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