Our Way

When I finish here, I’m going to go and buy a new date dress. Nathan is taking me to some fancy restaurant for dinner and dancing tonight. I want something really special.

“There you go.” The masseuse smiles.

“That was wonderful,” I say. “Thank you so much.” I dress and pay before I make my way out into the street. My phone rings, the name Brooke lighting up the screen. My stomach flips with nerves. I haven’t spoken to anyone since Nathan and I got together.

“Hello.”

“Oh my god, it’s a disaster!” Brooke cries.

“What is?” I frown as I walk along.

“Jolie has drunk too much kombucca and gone totally fucking insane.”

I stop walking. “What, why?”

“She’s been fucking Santiago and letting him film her.”

“Noo!” I gasp.

“She thinks she likes it; says it’s turning her on to know he’s watching it back when he’s alone.”

My eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. She doesn’t even know this guy, and now she doesn’t care if he shows anyone. Oh, and get this. She thinks they have something special—that he could be the one.”

“She has lost her mind. This is disturbing.”

“You need to talk to her.”

“I’m on the other side of the world.”

“Call her right now and tell her how stupid and irresponsible she’s being.”

“She’s a big girl.”

“… who is making a huge mistake she’s going to regret when she’s uploaded onto a porn site for millions of men to jerk off to. She’s going to become a public come-bucket.”

I wince at the horrendous analogy. “She hasn’t thought this through at all. I mean, okay I get it if she wants to sleep with him. But to let him film it when she knows he openly shows everyone. I mean… what the hell?” I whisper.

“My point exactly. You need to talk to her.”

“Why do I have to do it?”

“Because she’s not listening to me. She thinks I’m a prude and don’t get it. We had a huge fight about it, but as her friends, it’s our responsibility to look out for her… even if she doesn’t want us to.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, yes, you’re right. I’ll call her.”

“Call me back and tell me what she says.”

I hang up and dial Jolie’s number.

“Hello,” she answers abruptly. “If you’ve called to tell me that Santiago is a bad idea, I don’t want to talk to you.”

I cringe, jeez, she really is set on this. “No,” I snap. “I called to say hello, bitch.”

“Oh. Sorry. I thought Brooke had been in your ear. Hello. ”

I roll my eyes feeling guilty, Brooke has so been in my ear.