Page 14 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

I’m a size sixteen on a non-bloated day and Mischa must be an eight if I had to guess. Plus, our proportions are different. I have an hourglass figure and DDD tits. Mischa is built less curvy. She does have a nice ass though, I’ll give her that.

She’s flipping through dress after dress until she stops and pulls out a black gown. “Here it is. You’ll wear this.”

“It looks beautiful but I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to ruin it by accident. I can be so clumsy.” I rattle off a few more excuses that don’t seem to reach her ears. “What about the size? I’m sure it won’t fit.”

Again, her clear blue eyes rake over my body. Heat spreads to my cheeks.

“It was a gift from Milan. They sent the wrong size but I kept it anyway. Take it.”

I realize she’s serious so I take the gown from her outstretched hand. It feels like creamy velvet or spun silk. One touch and I know it’s expensive. Expensive and fragile. I’ll be on edge wearing it all night, but now that I’m looking at it, I don’t think I can give it up.

“Thank you,” I say. “I’ll have it dry cleaned and give it?—”

“No.” She waves me off. “Keep it. I have no need for it.” She closes her closet and turns to stride out the door.

“Okay,” I say, still confused by this entire encounter. “I’ll just go get ready then.”

She’s already on her way downstairs.

My phone rings as I get back to my room. I’m about to side button whoever it is when I see Falin’s name lit up across my screen.

“Oh my God, you’re actually calling me,” I say in a shocked tone. I clutch my chest for added flair.

“You’re clutching your chest, aren’t you?”

I double check the phone to see that it’s not on video call. “No. Definitely not. I just miss you! I haven’t heard your voice in a million years.”

Like my brother, my best friend travels for months at a time for her big tech company job. Her latest trip was to China for over a month. I love that for her but it makes keeping up with our friendship tough. I haven’t even told her about Ethan or moving in with Brennan.

“I know, it sucks. I promise you’ve been on my mind though. How’s life? Classes? My oh-so-favorite mommy’s boy, Ethan?”

Cringe.

I know I should tell her the truth. It’s sitting on the tip of my tongue but I don’t want to worry her. Not when she’s likely on the other side of the world. Knowing Falin, if I were to tell her about Ethan’s mistake, she’d fly here and kick his ass. And she could totally take him down.

“Everything’s fine. How are you?Whereare you?” I prop my phone up on the bathroom counter and grab my makeup bag. Might as well get ready while we catch up.

“Back in the states for now. But don’t change the subject, I can read you like a book. What’s going on?”

I finish applying shadow to my eyelid and take a breath. “I’m getting ready for this gala thing. Ethan’s parents are introducing us to the board at the teaching hospital and I need to make a good impression.”

There. It’s enough information to keep her satisfied.

“So things are okay with Ethan?”

“Yup. Things are great,” I lie.

“You remember my dad’s a cop right? He taught me a lot of things. Like how to tell when someone’s bullshitting me.” She uses thatI mean businesstone and I shiver.

With my foundation puff halfway to my face, I huff. I’ll have to give her something. “Okay, fine. I moved in with Brennan about a week ago. But before you ask, it’s only because I need a calm environment to focus on studying. This year is already kicking my ass and it’s just started.”

She’s quiet for a second and my heart rate kicks up. Having a police officer for a father makes her slightly terrifying. I’m about to ask her to say something, but she beats me to it.

“I’m all for that plan. You’ll get more time with Brennan and some much needed space from Ethan. How did he take it?”

“Oh, you know… he’s fine.” I finish blending my foundation and grab my mascara.

“Right,” she says, drawing out the word. “Before I have to hang up, I can take some PTO between projects. I was thinking about coming out for your birthday.”

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