“My story? What do you mean?” My heart thundered in my chest, and I broke out into a cold sweat because nobody can know my story and my story is a very vague one intentionally and probably very obviously vague to someone who’s a private eye.
“He’s askin’ questions about you. Looks like he’s interested, Pinky. Has been since he met you but seems like you two can’t get your shit together. Go for it. He’s a good guy.”
I tried to mask my confusion.
“What shit together?”
“He’s not usually the type to wanna be tied down but see somethin’ with him that I saw in myself when I met this one.” He jerked his thumb at Carly.
She rolled her eyes. “This one,” she muttered.
He smirked at her.
“What did you tell him about me?” I asked, peeling nail polish from my left thumb with my right, trying to act casual.
“That you joined us from a merger in Baltimore, that you’re a solid employee, a quirky weird girl, but we like you. And that you make killer fuckin’ cupcakes.” He shrugged.
“She is not weird,” Carly defended, looking like she was ready to take him down at the idea he’d upset me.
Gotta love Carly.
“I’m weird,” I admitted, “And completely uninterested.”
Carly and Aiden both jerked toward me with surprise. “Uninterested?” Carly looked me over. “Maybe you are weird. And when was your last eye exam?”
Aiden looked Carly in the eyes with a flexing jaw. “Tell us how you really feel, Peaches.”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, obviously he’s nice to look at. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed. But more important is that I saw how you noticed and heard how excited you were about that first date. But then you said he ghosted you after that date, but it sounds more like the other way around from what Aiden has said. Then… you change the subject whenever his name comes up. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. What’s goin’ on?”
Aiden leaned back against the kitchen counter and folded his arms, evidently also interested in my answer.
“It just wasn’t…” I shrugged. “Just not into him. Weird aura. Sorry, he’s your friend but I’m about more than looks. What else did you say about me?”
“Just that you’re single. He asked if you were in a relationship.”
“How do you know I’m not?” I snapped, making him rear back.
“Duh. Because I’m sure we’d know if you were,” Carly stated.
I shot her a look that I hoped screamed for her to stop talking.
It didn’t work.
“What’s goin’ on?” she asked.
“Just not into him.” I shrugged. “I’d like him to back off, too, so don’t encourage him, okay, Aiden?”
Aiden frowned.
“I’m hung up on someone from my past. I’m not ready for anything,” I added.
“You wanna talk about it?” Carly asked.
Aiden looked uncomfortable.
I bit my lip.
“Want me to mix some drinks?” she asked.
Who wouldn’t love her? She’s always ready to take my back with booze-infused fruity beverages just like I take hers with my frosted cupcakes.
Aiden looked at his phone and made a hasty exit, obviously wanting to avoid getting caught up in girl talk.
So that was good, but the bad part – Carly.
“Talk to me,” she invited, eyes full of concern.
“I don’t wanna talk about it. About him. My ex. He’s a douchebag. I’m not ready for the next douchebag, I guess. Jude looks fun to roll around with, but he was giving me relationship vibes, so yick. I’m not down for that. Too messy to play and then ghost him since he’s friends with Aiden.” I fake-shivered for effect.
She cocked her head curiously.
“Wanna go get manicures and pedicures? My treat,” I tried.
“We got mani pedis last weekend.”
“Is there such a thing as too much feet pampering” I asked. “And look at the mess of my fingernails.”
(Even though the fingernail mess was something I just did.)
Carly tipped her head side to side a few times in contemplation.
“Let’s go! And frothy overpriced coffee, too. On me. Meet you in the lobby in ten? I gotta dash down and get my pedicure flip flops and my bag.”
“I get the sense you’re trying to distract me from the conversation, but you look like you need to, so I’ll let you.”
“Thank you,” I rasped, giving her an expression that was rare for me because it was completely unfiltered. “I really can’t talk about any of that.”
Carly nodded. “When you’re ready.” She squeezed my hand.
Sadly, it didn’t matter if I was ready or not. It couldn’t happen.
The following Friday, I saw Jude outside my office. He walked up to me in the smoking shelter and got right in my space.
“What’s goin’ on with you? This is your last chance to start makin’ sense because I know you don’t have a man; you’re single one minute, in a relationship the next, and hung up on an ex according to someone else. And I’m losin’ patience.”