“My parents don’t count as rich people?” This was news to me.
“Yeah, but they’re normal people. They don’t act like rich people.” I wasn’t even going to step into that minefield to figure out what the hell she was talking about. I just ate my shrimp and shook my head.
Every time the waitress came back, we pretended that we were on a date.
“God, if we keep this up much more I’m gonna wind up having my way with you in the cab on the way back,” Sloane said as we ordered dessert. She went with the tiramisu and I got the same. The waitress brought the bill and I didn’t even look at it as I handed her my card and then signed my name when she came back. The gratuity was already in there, so I wouldn’t see it until I checked my online statement tomorrow. And at that point, I would avoid it.
“Just remember to use protection. I can’t afford to get knocked up at this juncture in my career,” I said, downing my third drink. Yeah, I was a little tipsy. Sloane had finished her drink and there was apparently a high alcohol content in it, because she was pretty far gone.
“Are you implying that I have a penis?”
“A really big one. Jumbo-sized. A porn star penis.” I knew my voice was loud and the topic of conversation was completely inappropriate for this type of restaurant, but I didn’t care at this point.
“You know it,” she said with an exaggerated wink.
We finished our desserts and stumbled toward a cab, Sloane dropped her doggie bag along the way and abandoned it on the sidewalk. Some homeless man was going to have a very lucky night.
We both fell onto the couch when we got home.
“That was nice,” Sloane slurred.
“You’re not a cheap date, Sloane Harris.”
“You spread that around.” We ended up changing into pajamas and spending the rest of the night sobering up on the couch with lots of water and microwave macaroni and cheese.
“See? This is just as much fun as going out. Actually, it’s more fun because you can wear what you want and you don’t have to be humiliated if you fart or something.” I moved away from Sloane on the couch. We’d lived with each other long enough that we’d seen it all, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be close to her if she let one rip.
“So are you going to move in with Lucah?”
“I can’t. What would I tell Dad? What if he wanted to come visit? It would never work. It’s just too risky.”
“That sucks.”
“Tell me about it.” I scraped the bottom of the bowl for the last remnants of melted cheese product. It might not be real, but that stuff was damn tasty.
“You think I’m ever going to find someone?” I did a double take. Sloane almost never wanted to talk about stuff like this. Must be the alcohol.
“Of course. There’s someone for everyone.”
“That’s just what happy couples say to single people to make them feel better. Not everyone finds their one true love, and what if only some people actually fit together? Like, what if some people are meant to go together, like puzzle pieces, but the factory screws up a few and they don’t have a match? What if I’m a bad puzzle piece?”
“You’re not a bad puzzle piece, Sloane.” I moved closer to her and made her look at me. “You are smart and you’re sexy and you’re funny and you’re so freaking talented and anyone who ever meets you adores you. I know this is all the stuff a friend is supposed to say, but it’s seriously true. I wouldn’t bullshit you.”
“Not to my face.”
“Yes, to your face. You know I would.” She finally relented.
“Where is he? I’m just worried that I’m going to be old and look back on my life and there wasn’t anyone to share it with. I want to share my life with someone.” I smacked her in the shoulder.
“Um, what about me? You’re sharing your life with me right now. Yes, it may not be in a romantic way, but you need all kinds of love in your life, not just that. I love you and so do Chloe and Marisol and everyone at your studio loves you, for the most part, and my parents even love you. Your life isn’t devoid of love, and you’re not alone, okay?”
“When the hell did you get all good-advice giving?” I had no idea. Normally I sucked at advice.
“I have no idea.”
“Must be love. Makes you smarter and more insightful.”
“Um, I think it does the opposite. Love makes you an idiot. So I didn’t tell you that Mrs. Andrews knows about me and Lucah.” I proceeded to inform her about the boardroom sex and then the getting caught. I’d been so stressed about it until I’d talked to Mrs. Andrews that I hadn’t even wanted to bring it up at all.