Page 51 of Let's Talk About Love
“I’m going to say a name; don’t get mad,” she said. “But is this how it was with Margot?”
“No. Dating was her idea and I went along with it.” It was hard to think about Margot without thinking about the last thing Margot had ever said to her.
“Not that. I meant did you get alljumbly wumblyaround her?”
Alice thought about it. “Not really. Margot was mostly into physical stuff. It wasn’t like we had long candlelit conversations or went for semiromantic strolls in the moonlight.”
“No strange foodie nonsex dreams either?” Her laughter cut right into Alice’s chest.
“Don’t make fun of me. Please?”
“I wasn’t.” Feenie sighed. She had no limits—everything was fair game to her. Anything could be used as ammo. “Part of your problem is you’re way too sensitive about this. Relax. It’s supposed to be fun.”
Alice took a deep breath, pressed her lips together, and breathed out through her nose.
Something had been up with Feenie from the moment she’d answered. She knew the signs: flippant, hot and cold, and manipulation—someone or something had royally pissed Feenie off.
(Was it her?)
“Anyway, Margot didn’t care about romance. I do.”
Feenie rotated her lip ring with an index finger. “Do you want to see him again?” She lowered her voice and raised her eyebrows. “After hours?”
“To hang out, yes.”
“And if he asks you on a date? What will you say?”
“I think I’d say yes. Just to see. I think I might have a serious squish on him.”
“The fuck is a squish?” Feenie sucked her teeth, shaking her head. “You know what? I don’t want to know. It seems like you’re romantically attracted to him, so there you go. Grand Mystery solved. I hereby resign from my love-coaching duties.”
“Maybe,” Alice said, trying to decide if Feenie’s answer had been sarcastic. “But also maybe not. I don’t know if I’d want to kiss him.”
Feenie grimaced. “You’ve always liked kissing. That’s definitely not a good sign, then.”
“I haven’t even wanted to hug him yet.”
“Oh, Jesus.It’s always out of the frying pan, straight into the fire with you.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Hey, I need you to do me a favor. Can you call Ryan? He thinks you hate him.”
“What? Why?”
“He’s mad at himself, which extends to him being mad at me because he thinks we ditched you last night.”
“Youdidditch me.” She laughed a little.
“Yeah. Well. Anyway, just call him.”
Alice couldn’t even pretend to be mad. Ryan had to be the sweetest person on the planet and besides, it had all worked out. “So you’re just not going to apologize?” she joked.
“Areyougoing to apologize?” Feenie shot back.
“For what?”
“For fucking leaving.”
(Ah, there it was.)
(Damn it.)
