Page 117 of The Friend Situation

“Do you want me to ask Weston? I will,” she offers as her fingers finish blending the makeup on my neck.

“Please don’t. That’s not my business. If people want you to know things, they’ll tell you, and he didn’t,” I murmur, feeling the weight of this on my chest. “He’s letting me stay with him out of the kindness of his heart. I just … I just don’t want to be a burden to him and his personal life.”

I glimpse at her handiwork in the mirror. It’s like the mark never even existed. “Thank you.”

“Welcome. Also, I’d be willing to bet anything that Weston doesn’t consider you a burden. Unlike Easton—that manhatesbeing alone—Weston wants company and has a fun personality. You act like him being with you is out of the realm of possibility,and it’s just not. Weston has the hots for you—I can tell,” she confirms with a knowing glance and a slight arch of her brow.

“Shut up,” I say, my face cracking into a smile. “Might need to add him to thewannabe loverslist.”

“Oh, he’s been there for a while anyway. Come get some food. You gotta go. I know you can’t be late.”

I steal a quick glance at the time on my phone, the numbers glaring back at me. I can still make it.

Lexi leads me into the cozy kitchen, where the aroma of freshly cooked bacon fills the air. She grabs a container from the cabinet and fills it with golden scrambled eggs and crispy bacon.

“You’re doing that thing you do where you think someone is too good to be true, and you push them away. Stop trying to convince yourself you and Weston can’t be together.”

Is that what this is? Has my relationship trauma misplaced my mistrust in Weston?

“How well do you know him, Lex?” I ask, a hint of hesitation creeping into my voice.

We’ve never discussed their relationship in depth. I’ve known Weston longer, but Lexi has spent more time with him. Easton and Weston are always together.

“Enough to know you’re hisperfectmatch,” she replies, her tone laced with certainty.

My heart skips a beat.

“He looks at you the same way Easton looks at me.”

I stare at her. “Excuse me?”

“He’s clearly in love with you,” she whispers.

“Lex, it’s dangerous to assume that.”

“It’s not an assumption. It’s the truth. Something changed the night we had burgers and watchedTitanic. I noticed it, and so did Easton.”

So did I.

“Ireallyhave to go.” A swarm of butterflies swarm in my stomach.

“Just give him a chance,” she urges.

“I know I’m the problem.” I place my hands on her shoulders. “Pretty please don’t add more pressure on me than I already have. I don’t think I can handle anything else right now.”

“I do need your help with one thing. Please?” She glances at me with hopeful eyes.

“Yes?” I ask.

“I need to plan my pregnancy announcement party,” she says, following me to the door, her excitement nearly boiling over. “Will you help? Thankfully, it’s winter, so I can hide my bump with big coats, sweaters, and jackets in public, but that won’t be the case forever.”

A wide smile breaks across my face, and I hug her. “I’d be honored.”

Lexi squeezes me. “Falling in love is fun. You should run toward it this time instead of away.”

“Have a good day.” I leave with the food container cradled in my hand.

My head spins with thoughts of Weston. Lexi thinks he’s in love with me, and I think that’s impossible. Isn’t it?

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