Page 73 of The Mistakes I've Made
“Man, you really do have it bad for this guy.”
“I know,” I said. “That’s why you have to help me.”
“Babe, I know it’s maybe been a while, but I’m sure you’ll figure it all out.” She laughed. “It really is like riding a bicycle.”
“Not that!” I exclaimed. “I’m pretty sure I still know how to do that.” I thought back to how it’d felt to be wrapped around Taylor, his body so hard and ready for me. “Yes, I definitely know how all that still works.”
“Great.”
“Good.” I let out a huff of air from my lungs.
“Then, why do you sound so frustrated?” she finally asked.
“Because I don’t think any of this is a good idea,” I finally blurted out.
“What?”
“Me, him—us. It’s not a good idea. Did I tell you we work together?”
“Uh, no. You didn’t mention—”
I didn’t let her finish. The dam had been broken. The floodgates were open. I was letting it all out now. “The town appointed him as my go-between. Him! Can you believe that? Of all the people in this town, they sent him! The one man I couldn’t stand!”
“But, clearly, you can. Stand him, that is.”
“Of course I can!” My hands went up in the air. “Did I mention we kissed?”
“No!”.
“Yep. We kissed. It was amazing. Like life-altering. Until I stepped back and told him I didn’t need any distractions.”
“Ouch.”
“I know. I’m an idiot. So, now, we have rules.”
“What rules?” she asked, obviously trying to keep up with my convoluted life.
“We’re not allowed to date each other.”
“I see.”
“And,” I added, “We’re not allowed to date anyone else either.”
“Huh? Who made up that one?”
“He did.”
“Oh, really?”
“He said it was only going to distract us further. I agreed because…well, that was the day that I saw him with the blonde at lunch.”
“Lani, you are making my head spin.”
“Sorry,” I said, realizing I had been talking way too fast. “He just makes me crazy.”
“Love can do that.”
“Love?” I echoed. “Who said anything about love?”
