Page 54 of Thanks for the Friendship
“Thanks for inviting me tonight. I don’t get many dinner invitations,” he says, the corner of his mouth tilting up.
He can’t be serious. I’m not sure who he thinks he’s talking to but, there’s no way I’m falling for that.
“Oh, sure you do,” I reply.
“Actually, I don’t. I work a lot, but I’m trying to cut back to allow more time for my hobbies,” he says running his hand through his hair, making it fall perfectly to cup his chiseled face.
“Wait, are you saying that you don’t just have fun while making your brother do all the other stuff?”
He chuckles. “I forgot I told you about that.”
I lean against the counter. “You did, and I don’t forget things.”
AJ moves closer to me. “I’m fascinated by you, Lila.”
Before I can respond, Sara joins us.
“Lila, thanks again for coming to celebrate Diane’s birthday. She was so happy you were there.”
“You’re very welcome,” I say. “It was so lovely. You did a great job.”
She puts her elbows on the counter and casually leans over right in front of AJ.
Damn, I wish I could figure this girl out. One minute she’s talking about a magical future with Cal, and the next she’s trying to get AJ to notice her. Maybe it’s all about the attention, or the fact that AJ exudes mystery. Cal is definitely handsome, but AJ gives off the textbook bad boy vibe. There’s obviously a part of Sara that’s attracted to that.
“AJ was just telling me that he rarely gets dinner invitations,” I tell her.
She pretends to look shocked. “Oh, no. That’s a shame.”
He pouts. “It is a shame. Hopefully that changes and Lila will invite me over again.”
Sara plasters a fake smile on her face. “I’m sure she will once she gets settled in a new place, right, Lila? This gorgeous house is about to be sold.”
I nod sadly.
“Really? This is a great house. I’d love a tour sometime later,” he says.
“Yes, me too,” Sara chimes in.
The conversation shifts to real estate, and Sara continues her subtle flirtation. I don’t pick up on anything unusual from either of them, which makes me wonder if I was wrong. Maybe there isn’t anything going on other than the casual flirting. I excuse myself to talk to my roommates, leaving them alone in the kitchen. Reagan, Gabby, Theo, Jeremy, and Cal are out on the patio talking about the hammock incident. Gabby catches my eye and walks over to me.
“What’s up?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
She leans her head to the side. “I don’t believe you.”
I glance over to see Cal watching us, and I instantly feel like a terrible person for thinking his girlfriend was cheating on him. The last thing I’d ever want is for him to be hurt. He’s been with Sara for three years—he obviously loves her.
“I’m good. Let’s get ready for dinner.”
Gabby and I go back inside the house, and Sara and AJ are no longer in the kitchen.
She looks at me, her eyes growing wide.
“Where did they go?” she mouths.
I shrug my shoulders.
