Page 35 of Books and Hookups

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“How’d you find out? Was it a Carly situation? Did the girlfriend show up at your house? Wait, do you need a drink? I’ve got wine. Or we can go to the bar.”

“Wine?” she asked. “When’s the last time you had a glass of water? You need to hydrate.” She jumped up from the couch and went to my kitchen.

I followed her. “What happened, Savannah?”

She found the pitcher and poured two glasses of water. “It’s like he wanted me to find out.” She handed me a glass and waited until I took a gulp. “I’d told him I wanted to go see that new rom-com at the movie theater.”

“The one with Helen Choi?” I asked. Carly had styled her for the premiere.

“Yes. But he kept putting me off. So, I decided to go by myself on Friday afternoon while he was working. It felt amazing. I got unbuttered popcorn because I hate having greasy fingers. And I sat in the back row. I like to feel like I’m at the movies, you know? Jason always sits in the front because it’s more immersive.

“But as I was sitting there, waiting for the movie to start, he walked in with his arm around another woman.”

“No!” My face prickled with secondhand humiliation. “What did you do?”

“I tried to enjoy the movie. But I couldn’t. I kept watchingthem.So, I walked out.”

“And then?” This was better than any rom-com. I grabbed a bag of M&Ms from a cabinet and poured them into a cereal bowl. I held it out to Savannah.

“I shouldn’t,” she said. I pressed the bowl into her hand. “Okay, fine.” She popped one into her mouth. “When he got home, he told me he’d gone to happy hour with a couple of colleagues.”

“He did not!” I grabbed a handful of candy.

She took another piece and nodded. “I told him I’d seen him. After a while he…he told me he’d done it because he wasn’t getting enough affection at home.”

“No!” I said, horrified. “I hope you ripped him a new one.”

“No. I—” She took a deep breath. “I asked him if he wanted to stay married. He said yes, but…” She picked up another piece of candy and examined it.

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

I bit my tongue. Literally. Otherwise, I’d tell her she should know what she wanted, and it shouldn’t be to stay married to her douche of a husband. Just like I’d tell my mother if she ever asked me. But Savannah wasn’t asking me either.

I took a deep breath. “Same thing you said. We’re all here to support you in whatever way you need. Though…” I glanced at the crib. “If you need a place to stay, maybe ask Tessa. I think I’m at maximum occupancy here.”

“You’ve got enough going on. I’m sorry I said anything about my troubles.”

I gripped her shoulder. “Never apologize for that. I’m always here for you. To listen or help. Whatever you need. That’s what best friends do.”

A tear spilled onto her cheek. “We’ll get through this. We’re goddesses, remember?”

“Goddesses,” I agreed.

14

The Situationship

Mojito (shaken)

In a cocktail shaker, combine a sprig of mint, 2 ounces white rum, 1 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounce simple syrup. Lightly muddle. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Shake, then strain into a lowball glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with mint and lime slices.

DANNY

Tuesday was ladies’ night, and I’d hoped Lucie would stop by the bar. She couldn’t drink red wine or her favorite negroni or the scotch she forced down when she was feeling insecure, but I’d been experimenting with nonalcoholic drinks I thought she might like. In fact, I was toying with the idea of a whole menu of mocktails.

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