Page 257 of Rock Me All Night
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It's onlyfive blocks to the Hollywood and Highland center, the mall slash tourist trap center of the neighborhood. It's right along the Walk of Fame and adjacent to just about every club on the boulevard.
Meg eyes me cautiously. "I'm guessing you don't want to talk about it, but I'm going to channel you. And I think that means I need to make you talk about it."
"That sounds like what I would do." I slurp my drink until it's nothing but ice. "Of course, I'd bribe you with caffeine."
"Oh, my dear, your wish is my command." She nods to the coffee shop across the walkway. "Unless you want something alcoholic."
"Are you drinking now?"
"Every so often." She sits on a concrete bench and pats the spot next to her. "It still makes me think about Rosie. And, it's not like I'm going to drink when Miles is around." She looks me in the eyes. "I still remember meeting Drew. He seemed so normal. Last guy in the world I ever thought would leave you in knots."
"That's a good way to describe it."
"What happened?"
"He's 'not good at relationships.'"
Her eyes narrow. "I can find some way to have him killed, you know. More than happy to."
"Don't. I... I care about him. A lot. So much it hurts."
"I know the feeling."
I press my heel into the concrete. "This how you felt with Miles last semester?"
"You can't sleep or think and you feel like your body, heart, and head are waging this terrible three-front war?"
I nod.
"Yep." She slurps the last drop of her tea. "It wasn't pretty, but it was worth it. He's just so..." She sighs. "Sorry, I don't want to brag at a time like this."
"It's sweet."
"I know Drew cares about you," she says. "Loves you even. You should have seen the way he was acting today. He was desperate to see you. And any time Tom even said your name, he got all angry and protective."
"Yeah, it's not hard to make him angry and protective. But what do I do with that?"
"You don't like it?" she asks.
"It has a certain appeal. And the sex is amazing." I press my back against the railing behind us. "But then I have this guy who has been my friend for ten years telling me he's not good at relationships."
"Maybe he's not."
"Obviously not," I say.
"You could teach him. Help him." She tosses her drink in a trash can. "I really do think he loves you. So if you love him..."
"Maybe," I say. "I kind of miss breathing and sleeping and being able to concentrate."
"It's so unfair that you have to choose." She pushes herself off the bench. "Come on. I'm buying you another tea."
"Okay."
"Now, let me ask you something—do you want to talk about it or do you want to force Drew to listen to you?"
"I want to think about something else."
