Page 21 of Just Friends

Lucy’s eyes soften as she stares at a point over my head. “Have you ever had a moment where time stood still? There were electric currents in the air, zapping and crackling between you and someone else? And you felt like you were standing on a precipice, not sure whether you wanted to fall or not?”

Well, when she puts it that way,yes. My heart rate quickens just thinking about it.

“That’sthe moment you want to do the hand flex—when you’re right there at the edge of almost, and you back away. Flex your hand so she knows you felt it too.”

I nod, starting to understand. “Okay, I can do that. What else?”

Her pen flies over the paper once more. “Do you have a tortured past we can lean into?”

“One time I walked in on my parents having sex. Doggy style. Facing the door. We all made eye contact.”

“That’s something only a therapist can help you with, honey.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Lucy shakes her head, drawing a line throughtortured pastin her notebook. She taps the pen against her lips, thinking. “We need an excuse to get you dirty and sweaty. Maybe a nature date.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Dirty and sweaty?”

“If you haven’t seenThe Witcher,then I just know you haven’t seenOutlandereither,so you won’t get it.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Lucy writesnature dateon the paper.

“Is this one of the blind dates?”

“No, this needs to be something for just the two of you. And,oh! Bring her favorite snack when you go.” She pauses, writing down her ideas. “Do you think stealthily tripping her so you have to carry her back to the car would be too far?”

“You want me toinjureHazel?”

“You’re right,” she says, waving her hand. “Too far.”

I’m taking a sip of my tea when she says, “One bed.”

The drink hovers a breath from my lips. If she was trying to grab my attention, that did it. “One bed?”

“You need to orchestrate a situation where you have to sleep in the same bed.” Lucy writes this on the paper before meeting my eyes again. “Hazel is a cuddler.”

Boy, if that doesn’t paint a mental picture I want to examine for the next three to five business days. “This seems promising.”

Lucy chokes on a laugh. “I bet it does. Do you think you could get your hands on a puppy?”

“Maybe?” I say, and it comes out more like a question than an answer.

She shrugs. “If you can find a puppy to hold, do it. And try to be shirtless.”

I’m not exactly sure what situation I’d find myself in half-naked with Hazel and a puppy, but I make a mental note anyway.

“And help her over puddles like she’s a Victorian maiden who can’t wet her hems.”

Nodding, I repeat, “Victorian maiden.”

Her phone buzzes on the table, and she reads the screen before saying, “Hazel. She’s wondering when I’m coming back from myerrand. I better get back.”

After draining the rest of my tea, I nod. “Thank you for everything, Lucy.”

A smile touches her lips, and her gray eyes soften. “I’m glad you’re doing this.”

---