Page 82 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
“Enjoy your breakfast?”
Tala’s voice sounded curt, and it told me how badly I had screwed up.“I’m an idiot.”
“Uh huh.” She heaved a sigh. “But you’re still my best friend. Happy birthday, Gabe.”
“Thanks.”
“That was Luna’s idea, by the way. I just helped her pick the food.”
I groaned. “Great.”
“Morning-after regrets?”
“I didn’t sleep with anyone.” The words slipped out of my mouth without thought.
“I didn’t say you did. Did you hear me say anything?”
I grunted and poured myself a cup of coffee. “Why do you sound amused?”
Laughing, she said, “Because I can’t believe you, Mr. I Don’t Do Relationships, are being defensive about my sister.”
“First of all, I never mentioned relationships. Second, I never mentioned Luna. Also, you used to say you didn’t do relationships until Jason came along.”
Tala squealed, and the girlish sound was so unexpected from her that I paused mid-sip. “The way you said Luna’s name.”
“What about it?”
“You sounded lovestruck.”
“The hell?” I rubbed my nape, suddenly feeling warm. “You’re imagining things.”
“You’re still in denial. That’s fine; I’ve been there too. Just remember when you come to your senses that I called it early.”
“The alcohol must have damaged my ears because I’m hearing nonsense. I need to eat.”
“Drink plenty of coffee too so you finally realize what’s what.”
“Hanging up now.”
“I’m noting this date on my calendar.”
“Goodbye, Tala.”
“Bye, Gabe. Oh, and I’ll text you Luna’s flight details if you change your mind.”
She hung up before I could tell her I already knew them. Maybe it was for the better, so I wouldn’t give her more fodder for her baseless theories.
My relationship with Luna had nothing to do with love. I simply valued her as a person. Who else would have thought to arrange a surprise breakfast delivery for me because she knew I was alone? She could have canceled it after our disastrous phone call, but she hadn’t.
Here I’d fabricated wanting to extend my trip as an excuse to miss her arrival. I wanted neither of those things—I only wanted to reestablish the boundaries between us.
At this point, was that even possible? And did I even want that in the first place?
My brain throbbed, telling me now wasn’t the best time for self-reflection. Not when I hadn’t gotten the alcohol out of my system.
Grabbing a piece of toast, I checked the status of Luna’s flight.
I could still pick her up. She wasn’t arriving until tomorrow. It was the right thing to do—she was landing in the evening, and after almost thirty hours of travel, she’d be exhausted. She shouldn’t have to go through an unfamiliar commute on top of that.
