Page 26 of Back Up Plan

Ari nodded, “Can you go above his head?”

Cass shrugged, “Icould. But, I don’t think it’d go well.”

“I get that,” Ari said.

Cass retreated into her mind. But, Ari could sense there was something else.

“Anything else?” Ari pushed.

Cass sighed, “Ugh. No judgment?”

Ari nodded, why not? They didn’t owe each other anything so she could reserve her judgment for a little while.

“Elle has been texting me,” Cass admitted.

“Oh,” Ari said.

Cass smacked Ari’s arm.Right, no judgment.

“Is that a new development?” Ari asked.

Cass shook her head, “No. I mean we’ve broken up like five times and I had no idea she was seeing anyone seriously so we’ve like… sent some messages we probably shouldn’t have. But, she messaged me and said ‘I miss you’”

“Ew, really?” Ari asked and rushed to add, “Not ew to you. Ew to an engaged woman sending a ‘u up?’ text to their ex who is also supposedly in a relationship.”

Cass nodded, glad Ari clarified.

“Yeah but I don’t have a good track record of resisting her,” Cass confessed as she crossed her arms.

The pieces were connecting for Ari. Ari had been sucked back into her own long-term relationship a couple times, even though she knew it wasn’t right.

“Maybe it’s different now,” Ari said and smirked, “Since you have such a banging girlfriend.”

Cass laughed as her timer went off for the washer. Ari grabbed the metal laundromat carts and placed it under Cass’s machine as she opened the door.

“Thanks,” Cass said with a smile.

They dumped the clothes into the cart, wheeled them back to the dryers and tossed them in.

“I can’t believe you don’t separate your laundry,” Ari said as she shook her head, helping to throw the clothes into the industrial dryer.

Cass laughed, “It’s a scam to make me pay more to do my laundry and I won’t fall for it.”

Ari laughed as she finished loading up the machine.

“Besides, it’s a helpful date. You wouldn’t have known I don’t separate my clothes if I hadn’t forced you to come here,” Cass said.

Ari nodded, “So that’s why you dragged me out to Queens?”

“Yeah, ya know, good for us to know each other’s dirty laundry and what not.” she said as she laughed at her own joke.

When they finished, Ari hopped onto the folding table as Cass leaned next to her. Cass set a pile of damp, non-dryable bras, jeans, and shirts next to them.

Rolling her eyes, Ari asked, “But seriously, who even does their own laundry if they can afford a service?”

Cass scoffed and mocked Ari, “I’m Ari and I’m above cleaning my own dirty panties.”

Ari tossed a damp pair of jeans at her and added, “I’m just surprised is all. You seem busy and you save all this money on rent.”

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