Page 20 of Chasing Chase London: Part 8-Valentines Day
“Guess it works for them,” Daria says with a shrug. “Besides, ethical non-monogamy is trendy now.”
“Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Oh, totally,” Daria says, clapping her hands gleefully. “I can’t wait!”
“They’ll settle down once she gets to college with him in a few years,” Lindsey assures us.
Daria snorts. “I think she’s a nympho, and he knows she can’t be faithful, so he doesn’t make her.”
“It’d be nice if she’d stop nymphing after my boyfriend,” I mutter.
“Aww, did you just call Todd your boyfriend?” Lindsey asks.
I shrug. “I mean, he was when they hooked up.”
“I bet she just does it because he’s amazing in the sack,” Daria says.
“How do you know?”
“Just a guess,” she says. “That boy is huge, for one thing, and for another, he’s like this big dumb Neanderthal. And you know the more primitive the guy, the better he is in bed. So she’s got the brains in Ian and the brawn in Todd. I mean, Ian is cute in a nerdy sort of way, but I bet he’s totally weak when it comes to getting down and dirty.”
“Daria,” Lindsey scolds, looking scandalized. “These are our friends.”
Daria lets out one of her famous, head-thrown-back laughs.
“So what about you?” Lindsey asks me, pointedly ignoring our friend. “Got your eye on anyone special besides Todd?”
Does her boyfriend count?
My face flushes, and I duck my head and take a drink, hoping she won’t notice. I hate that I can’t make my heart give up on him. Why can’t I just turn it off?
“I don’t know, not really,” I mumble. “I’m not ready to date anyone yet.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Lindsey says, rubbing my back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a sensitive subject.”
I immediately feel like shit that she took my words to mean I’m still torn up about Todd. I didn’t even care that much, and here she’s feeling bad for bringing it up. I’m the one who should feel bad.
When we get up and head towards Juice King, Daria nudges me with her shoulder. “Well played,” she whispers, which only makes me feel worse.
Am I really so conniving as to play off Lindsey’s sympathies while I fantasize about her boyfriend behind her back? I wasn’t trying to, and I didn’t mean that I was heartbroken, but I also didn’t correct her.
Yep, it’s official. I am an evil bitch. That must be why Lindsey likes me—I remind her of Elaine. After all, I sat there soaking up her sympathy when all the time I’m the one betraying her.
*
“I can’t believe it! Motherfucker!”
I glance over at Lindsey as Daria punches the pillow and howls into the bed the next night. Her spy mission was successful, although I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Lindsey murmurs, sitting next to Daria and rubbing her back.
I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to do. Lindsey called me over to her house to help absorb the shock waves from Daria’s discovery after she talked to Isabel. I’ve always thought of Daria as being so strong, and I’m not sure how to comfort her. She’s usually the one doing the comforting, saying how we don’t need boys, how expendable they are. And now she’s sobbing like her heart’s been wrenched from her chest, and I can’t do anything to make her feel better.
“Oh, just go on and say it,” Daria says through her sobs, gesturing towards me. “You know you want to!”
“Say what?”
“Say you told me so. That I shouldn’t let myself get pulled in, that he’d only do it again. You’re right, okay? You’re right! I hope you’re happy.”
