Page 13 of Mess With Me
He glanced over at Ally. “Why would I miss Zach? He lives in town now.”
She waved airily. “Because, you know, now he’s part of the Carrie-Zach couple unit. They’re like all wrapped up in each other.”
“Don’t you see Carrie anymore?”
She sighed. “I do, but it’s not the same. Her mind is in her studies, she just started graduate school, and the rest of the time she’s with him. I mean, sure, I still see her at our book club meetings, a few special occasions, birthdays and stuff, but it’s not the same.”
Hanging out with Zach still felt exactly the same to him. They drank beer, played basketball, and razzed each other just like always. Women’s relationships had a layer of complexity he had yet to crack.
“I mean, I’m happy for them,” she said with forced cheer. “Yay, couplehood! But then what about yay, single friend, you know?”
He was about to ask if she wished she was part of a couple too because it sure as hell sounded like that when she went on.
“Whatever,” she sang. “I’m not bitter. I’m happy, happy, happy.”
“Because of your single me, happy me plan?”
“Yes,” she said firmly.
He mulled over how to make his case for being part of her happy-me plan minus the single, when she said in a voice full of warmth, “Thanks for not giving me a ticket.”
It was something. A start. “Sure. Don’t let it happen again.”
“I sped a little on the way home.”
“I didn’t hear that.”
“I jaywalk too. I just dart across the street the moment traffic clears.”
He groaned. “Ally, seriously I’m going to have to take you through good citizenship one-oh-one.”
“Like a dog?” She lifted her hands like paws and panted with her tongue out. “Train me up for my good citizenship. Arf! Bring lots of biscuits.”
He smirked.
“You’re thinking of doggy-style, aren’t you?” she accused.
Already she was onto his dirty line of thinking. “I admit nothing. And please cross with the light. There’s no reason to play chicken with traffic.”
“You’re kind of a goody-goody for a tough cop.”
He glared at her. She laughed.
“You take that back,” he ordered.
“Okay, okay, you just have an unhealthy respect for law and order.”
He stopped at a red light and gave her his best intimidating cop stare. “I’m a frigging cop.”
She put her palms up. “Don’t arrest me, officer! It’s not a crime to notice stuff about other people. Right? I mean, you’re not on duty.”
He clenched his jaw. He was the king of cool andnota goody-goody.
She patted his arm. “Lighten up. I’m just joking around.”
He growled out his retort, giving it some bite. “Spend more time with me and you’ll see just how much I’m not a goody-goody.” He checked the light. Still red. He turned back to see her grinning.
“Challenge accepted. This’ll be fun.”
