Page 49 of Unforgettable

Resigned, I throw myself onto the mattress dramatically. “What do you think happened? We had sex.”

Amazing, he-made-me-come-with-no-hands sex.

“Is that all?”

“What do you mean, is that all?”

“You make it sound like you’ve committed a crime. Two consenting adults are allowed to have mind-blowing sex whenever they want.”

“I know that,” I whine. “But I may have agreed to also go to his family’s house for dinner and pretend to be his boyfriend.”

“For the night?”

“For a few nights until his sister's wedding,” I blurt out.

Murph throws his hands over his face and groans. “Hotcakes, this is not a good idea. Not at all.”

I peel his fingers away from his eyes and look down at him. “He asked and I didn’t know how to say no.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “Did you even want to say no?”

“That’s not really a fair question to ask,” I say, glaring at him. “Don’t burst my bubble, Murph. I know the stakes. I’m also leaving, so really, just like you said, it’s two consenting adults having fun, along with, you know, some mind-blowing sex.”

“But you like him,” he insists.

A self-deprecating laugh leaves my mouth. “I like everyone. That’s my problem. But at least this time, I’m not attaching myself to someone I know I can’t have. I’m not building a life with him in my head, only for it to be snatched from right underneath me.”

I can feel myself becoming frantic, my voice getting higher and higher as I confess to all the scars my breakup with Micah left behind.

“I just want to enjoy my time with him. And maybe it’s the wrong way to be doing it. Or maybe there’s no right way, but I really just love who I am right now. I want to liveinthis moment. I’ve never done that before.”

“Look.” Murph grabs my hand and puts it in between both of his. “You gave me specific instructions to be your voice of reason if I needed to be.”

I try not to sound too dejected. “So, this is that moment?”

“Not yet. But we’re close. Now please grab your laptop and let’s just watchSchitt’s Creek?”

“Again?” I ask excitedly.

“I know it’s your happy place.”

Grabbing my laptop off the floor beside the bed, I open it and rest it between us. It only takes a few episodes before Murph is fast asleep and I’m not too far behind.

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a lazy day at home with your best friend.

* * *

“Reeve.” Tara peeks into the stock room at the bookstore. “Someone is here to see you.”

“Me?” I ask, confused. “Who is it?”

She purses his lips together thoughtfully before answering. “She said it’s a surprise.”

“She,” I echo.

Tara walks toward me and takes the stack of books I’ve collected out of my hands. “I can take over in here for now.”

Switching places, I head out to the main floor and am met with a stern-faced Callie, who is crouched down at eye level with Poppy, clearly passing on some important life lesson.

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