Page 78 of We Can't Be Friends

Chloe crosses off the word rent and writes utilities under it. “I’m splitting utilities, then.”

I shake my head no. “What, a few extra showers are going to dramatically change that?”

Her shoulders tense. “I enjoy taking long showers.” I tilt my head, offering up the space to add on, but she doesn’t. Chloe keeps writing, adding rules below utilities.

“What do you need from me as your girlfriend?”

“Just pretend.”

“Thanks captain obvious, but really. There isn’t an event or anything I have to go to?”

“Maybe. Needed to get my mom off my back.” I wouldn’t put it past her to create a reason I’d need to bring Chloe around.

“Okay then. . . what about living with you?”

“That helps. I’ll say you moved in.”

“Great.” She taps the tip of the pen on the paper. “Friends? Yes or no, they can come over?”

What friends do either of us have here?

Chloe reads the confusion on my face. “Let me rephrase. What about bringing back guests? Say you want to bring someone back.”

“Seeing as we are boyfriend and girlfriend—”

“In name, and no one in Chicago is going to care about that.”

I do.

I know I don’t do relationships, but I can’t deny the burst of satisfaction that rumbled through me when she agreed to this. It’s not even because I checked off a box for my mom. It’s that it’s Chloe.

Hearing her say that she’d want to bring someone else back hurts. What right over her do I have? Nothing, really.

Why do you care?

Because I want her to see me, choose me. I’m tired of being number two.

“Sure,” I reluctantly reply. “If you want to bring someone else back, you have my permission.”

“This is easy, but I’ll walk my own dog.” She pauses, lifting the pen off the paper. “But I do have a couple of work events I need to travel for. Would you be willing to watch Tucker?”

His head perks up. Never had a pet, but he’s pretty cute. Seems easy, has been this past week.

“That’s fine. Anything else?”

“Nope. You?”

“This ends when my apartment is done?” I nod reluctantly. “If you sign here.” Chloe signs her name and draws a line next to mine. Passing me the pen and paper, I sign it and return it back to her.

She pulls a magnet out of the drawer and hangs it on the fridge. Patting it twice. “There. It’s official.”

Her back is to me. My gaze lingers on her legs. There’s a small cluster of freckles on the inside of her right knee. I wonder what it’d be like to have them wrapped around my head, kissing each one and then up her legs. . .

“Stop smirking at me.” Chloe spins around, catching me watching her, and I guess smirking.

“I’m not smirking at you.”

“Uh, yes, you are.” She takes a sip of coffee. “Stop that.” Chloe tries to wipe my smile. When her hand pulls away, I snatch it, letting my smile grow to my second dimple. “Stop.”

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