Page 187 of How to Lose at Love

She scoffs. “In my defense, it was a joke. And by the way, plenty of guys would have taken me up on the offer.”

I don’t know what he sees in you…

Her unspoken words linger between us.

You’re plain.

Boring.

Brunette.

“It’s not a joke if no one laughed.” I pause. “Did you laugh when you said it?”

I’m so irritated.

She shrugs.

“What does that mean?” I want to know, then I shrug my shoulders, too. “What’s this?”

Up and down, up and down.

Shit, I’m really pissed. Sarcasm is not my second language, and for a hot second I wonder if my delivery is hitting home.

“Did you laugh when you offered to suck my boyfriend’s cock?”

Tiffany’s face is red, and I don’t think it’s from the wind or the cold, the tips of her ears crimson too.

“You know what, I came over to apologize, and you’re being a bitch.”

I’m being a bitch? No shit! “Do you know I had to stop going to class after that picture of you came out? And my parents were disappointed in me. And I couldn’t go to work. And I second-guessed every decision I’d made, all because you wanted to be on the news by selling your fake story.” I laugh. “Now you stand here apologizing that you got ‘caught up in the moment’.”

I use air quotes.

More sarcasm. Great, Ryann.

“Listen. I can’t stand here all day arguing with you. I have to get home so I can change for work. But I’ll accept your apology and we can agree to stay out of each other’s way.”

“Dallas already told me I wasn’t allowed over.”

I nod. “Good. I honestly don’t want to see you inside the house.” Or in the yard. Or out by the street.

“How is that fair when my roommates are allowed inside?”

She has a good point. “How about I speak with the guys so they’re not allowed inside, either?”Huh, huh, how about that?

I take a deep breath.

One. Two.

Three.

Four…

“Don’t do that,” she begs. “Shannon really likes Drake. She’d be really pissed if she got kicked out of the house because of me.”

Know who I really don’t like? These girls.

They seem fake and vapid and completely out of touch with my reality. Dallas’s reality.

---