Steven, being the shy dude that he is, offers her a quick hi as he passes her and immediately joins his friends.

“How was your date?” she asks as she lifts her head to smile at me.

“Revealing,” I say truthfully, flopping onto the couch next to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Conrad texted me this afternoon and invited me over. We had a Mario Kart battle earlier but then I got bored. Then I thought I’d wait for you.” She shrugs and turns to watch the guys as they start a new Call of Duty battle. “Don’t they ever get tired of killing people every day?”

“That would be a no.” I nudge her knee to get her attention. “I have something to tell you.”

She smirks. “I have something to tell you, too. But you go first.”

I lean in close, my mouth at her ear. “Someone has a crush on you,” I whisper.

“Who? Conrad?” She makes a dismissive noise and waves her hand. “I already knew that. He tried to make a move the last time I was here.”

“Seriously?” I’m shocked. These boys may act like nerdy twelve year olds most of the time, but they aren’t afraid to go for it when it comes to girls.

“Oh, yeah. It’s all good now, especially when I told him who my secret crush was.” Her gaze goes to Steven super quick before returning to me. “I said I was madly in love with Jeff.”

“Really? Why would you say that?” She’s a liar. “Because I know who’s hot for you.”

“Who? Not Conrad? Don’t get my hopes up.” She rests a hand over her chest.

I go to her ear again and whisper, “It’s Steven.”

Kelli rears back, her eyes wide. “Wait a minute. What?”

Jerking my head toward the kitchen, I indicate we should talk in there. She follows after me, immediately going to the freezer and pulling out a relatively new bottle of Ketel One.

We go through a lot of vodka in this house, I guess.

“You just got back from a date with Steven and say that he has a crush on me. You’re either fucked up on drugs, want to have a threesome with me and Steven which is ew, so weird, or you’re serious,” Kelli says after she takes a swig straight from the bottle.

I pull a shot glass from the cupboard. Conrad’s childhood collection has come in handy lately. “No drugs,” I say as I pour a hearty shot. I need it. I’m feeling all sorts of weird this weekend. “And definitely not a threesome. God, Kel.”

“So you’re serious.”

“As a heart attack.” I fill another shot glass and hand it to Kelli. We do a quick toast before we tip the glasses back simultaneously and drink. Damn, that burns. “He likes you.”

“And you got him to admit this?”

“Yeah. Don’t ask. Just know that you have my blessing if you two started seeing each other.”

Kelli makes a funny face as she pours herself yet another shot and swallows it down. “You’re for real.”

I shrug. “Who am I to stop true love?”

“Please. We’re not true love. He’s not even my type. Look at him.” She waves a hand back toward the living room and the both of us turn to do exactly that.

Steven’s screaming from his beanbag, “Shoot him! Shoot that motherfucker!” over and over again as the other guys do exactly what he demands.

“That’s sort of hot,” Kelli says with a little sigh. “Why do I find that hot?”

I nudge her. “You’re crazy.”

“I’m buzzing from the shots, I think.” She refills her glass and slugs it back. “Okay that’s enough liquid courage for tonight. Should I talk to him? Do I look like hell? Oh God, I look like hell, don’t I? I put zero effort into tonight because I thought I was hanging out with Jeff and Conrad, you know? Those two jackasses don’t really pay attention and not like I’m not trying to impress them.”

Kelli’s so cute and rambly when she’s buzzed and worried. Kind of like Steven.

“And look at you. You’re gorgeous, all fancied up in your date clothes and here I am in yoga pants. I should go.” She pushes away from the counter and I stop her, my hands on her shoulders.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I tell her firmly. “You’ll crash on our couch if you have to, or sleep with me. Or sleep with…you know.” I flick my head in Steven’s direction.

“Ew, I’m not a slut, Alex. I don’t put out on the first date.” Her gaze goes back to Steven, the interest in her eyes plain. “Do you think he’s a virgin?”

“No way.” I shake my head, ignoring the doubt. He might be. I don’t know. Nothing’s made a lot of sense these last two days so I’m sort of just running with it.

My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket to check who it is.

Hey beautiful.

Tristan.

I can’t help the smile that grows and I consider answering him. I haven’t all day and I wonder if that’s driving him crazy. I know it would make me insane so I start to reply when Kelli snatches the phone out of my hands. “Hey! Give it back!”

“Tristan is texting you?” Kelli reads over every single text he’s sent today. Nothing is sacred, I swear. “This is kind of sweet.” She looks up at me.

“I know.”

“But you haven’t answered him.”

“What am I supposed to say? Hey thanks, but I think you’re a total dick?”

“You don’t think he’s a total dick.”

“I sort of do.” I shrug.

“Right, that’s why you blew off Steven tonight and basically just gave me permission to bang him,” Kelli retorts. “Quit denying your feelings. I think it’s pretty major that Tristan said all that stuff last night. I know you’re not impressed but really? I totally am.”

I probably should’ve never told her everything that he said to me, but I was at a low point last night. High on ice cream and invigorated by Carrie banging the very married Mr. Big—such a bad move on her part—but her bad move made me feel less guilty for wanting Tristan despite every stupid thing he does and says. There’s no hope for that guy. Or for us. I know this yet…

I’m not ready to give up on him. This means I’m crazy. I have to be.

“He’s all talk and no action,” I remind her.

“He’s showing you a little action via text,” Kelli points out.

“Again, all talk. There’s no action beyond him typing.” I’m suddenly tired. And no longer interested in talking about Tristan with Kelli. We’ve already gone over this. “I’m going to bed. Don’t drive home tonight, okay?”

“You’re going to leave me all alone with the guys?”

“You’re a big girl.” I pat the top of her head. “Have fun. Make a move on Steven but don’t go too far. He startles easy.”

“Shut up.” Her expression turns solemn. “I won’t leave tonight, I promise.”

“Good. If you want, come sleep with me. My bed is way more comfortable than that couch.”

“Are you trying to hit on me?” Kelli asks, blinking innocently.

“Shut up, you wish.” I shove her.

“Thanks, Alex. You’re a good friend.” She embraces me in a sloppy hug and I hug her back, clutching her close before I let her go. “Good night.”

“Night. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I tease.

“Which is a whole lot of nothing,” Kelli calls after me as I head toward my room.

Isn’t that the truth?

My phone dings and I grab it, smiling when I see who the text is from.

Hi. :)

Her first response of the day and it comes in at—I check the time—eleven-thirteen. Unlucky thirteen just turned into my favorite number.

How was your date?

I forced Kelli to tell me where Alexandria went tonight and she finally confessed—reluctantly. Those two were becoming close. It was sort of scary.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Smiling, I consider how I should answer.

Let’s not lie to each other. Did you have fun with Steven?

Her response is almost immediate.

We decided we were better off as friends.

I grin. I can’t help it.

Why?