Page 37 of Moon Shot

“If we get to the series, can you be there? You’re my good luck charm, Meredith. For now, at least,” he paused, “can you tell me we’re okay?” His good luck charm? Heart, keep it together. He’s out for the kill.

“Yeah,” I answered, walking back inside. “Let me know when you’re back in town.”

“Well?” Aubrey bounced in the seat when I hung up, staring at me expectantly.

Taking the froth off my latte and licking it from my index finger, I wondered how I could answer that. Do I tell her the truth or prepare her for November, when we fake break up?

“We’re going through some things.”

Her smile quickly faded, like I’d ripped away a dream of hers. It was like I told her Santa wasn’t real and neither were Rowan and I.

“What’s the problem? Give it another chance. Do what I do when faced with the impossible,” Aubrey cheered me on.

“I don’t think writing a pro and con list while eating mac and cheese pizza is my answer.”

“Maybe not right now, because we’re both going to look fabulous in our dresses at the wedding, but we could drink these coffees and start with the pro. Oh my god,” her eyes almost rolled back in her head, “can we start with his body?”

“No.”

“His back, though. Right? I mean, my god, Mer. His arms!”

“Excuse me,” I snapped, laughing at my best friend, “which one of them are you marrying?”

“Oh,” she blushed, “Ethan knows all about my crush on Rowan, and maybe Rowie does, too. Anyway, I love Ethan. I don’t love Rowan. That’s your job. Give me your phone. I’ll start taking notes. Pro? His smile.”

“The way his eyes squint when he smiles,” I added, biting my lip. “But there’s a lot more to him than how hot he is. He drives me wherever we go. He opens the door for me. He makes sure I’m locked in before he leaves. His touch is perfect. It’s gentle and dominant, secure. I don’t know…”

Aubrey’s eyes were wide, her mouth gaping. “Sure, you do. Tell me all of it.”

So, I did. As much as I could, I let Aubrey know how he’d changed my perception of him, putting pesky feelings in my heart and making everything he did worth watching. “He kisses my forehead and just lingers there for the smallest moment, but it’s like time stops. It’s like my body is made for him, like we’re—”

“A perfect match,” she sobbed, nodding vigorously. “Holy shit, Meredith.”

“What?”

“Rowan loves you.”

“So,” I froze, “on to the list of cons?”

“Does he not spoil you enough?” She mocked me, still tearing up at the fictional romance she had no clue was about to crumble in just a few weeks.

The following day, Rowan sent a text telling me he would be home late that night before spending the day at news conferences at the stadium. Monday was chaotic and stressful at work, so I spent the night pretending it didn’t exist at all by indulging in too much chocolate and drawing a hot bath.

It was relaxing until Aubrey ruined my life with her phone call. “I did something. It was a mistake. I swear on my wedding dress,” she whimpered into the phone.

“What happened?” I put the phone on speaker while I changed into my pajamas and dried my hair. Aubrey was in a panic. I could tell by how long it took her to talk before it all came out in one messy ramble.

“I was sending you a message about our pro and con list, just to make you laugh, but,” she started crying again, sounding gooey and a mess, “I accidentally sent it to R—”

“No.”

“I am so sorry, Mer!”

“Aubrey! That’s going to make him hate me! That was something stupid I did just to entertain you. I don’t seriously think anything is a con, but now... what the hell?”

Water saturated my rug as I stood with dripping hair, frozen in fear of the mess Aubrey started. I hung up on her and tried calling Rowan, hoping to tell him it was Aubrey being stupid and apologize for whatever she said. No answer.

I tried calling two more times, probably annoying him with how needy I seemed. I ignored Aubrey’s calls, not ready to handle her, and fell onto my couch with my head dangling over the edge while plotting her death.

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