Page 116 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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“Does this ‘private-school boy’ have a name?”

Jyoti copies my own glum tone.

“Obi,” I offer, but say no more.

“You don’t seem too excited to talk about him.”

“I feel excited when I’m with him,

but when I’m not with him, I forget about him.

When I see you and T are texting all the time,

I wonder why I don’t ever feel like texting Obi.”

I pause to weigh my words before I continue.

“Like, I’ve had some stuff going on recently

and Matt’s been the one to help me through it.

I didn’t even think to ask Obi for his advice.

I didn’t even tell Obi what’s been happening.”

“But you and Matt...” Jyoti trails off.

“Me and Matt what?”

“You’re best friends.”

Jyoti says this oddly,

but I don’t take the bait.

“Isn’t the goal supposed to be

that your romantic partner

becomes your best friend eventually?” I ask.

“No, not necessarily,” says Jyoti, thinking.

“That’s not always the healthiest thing.

Imagine you made your romantic partner

your everything: if you broke up

there would be nothing and no one else left.

That would be super depressing.”

“So, T’s not becoming your best friend?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I like your cousin.

But I wouldn’t go so far as to say

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