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“It was funny,” she said,and added, softer, “and fun.”
“Come over,” I said withoutthinking. It was the alcohol. It was the fact that my best friendwas about to get married, and I’d just called off yet anotherengagement. It wasn’t because I needed to see Charlotte,specifically. It couldn’t be. Because if I had a crush on my bestfriend’s little sister, that would be pathetic and immatureand...
She giggled. She had the sexiestgiggle.
“Stay the night with me.”Was I begging? That had very much sounded like begging.
“The night is almost over,”she pointed out. “And you’re clearly drunk. And I think my parentswould notice if I wasn’t here in the morning.”
“Fuck those parents,” Iblurted, the drunkenness making me a little tooforceful.
She laughed again. “Wow, you are litup.”
“Like the Eiffel Tower.” Ipaused. “Have you ever seen the Eiffel Tower? We could gothere.”
“Mmm, I’mnot sure we have time to fit a jaunt to Paris in between thewedding and the reception.” She was reminding me that this would beover soon.Wewould be over soon.
“Then come over. We’ll lookat a picture of it.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m drunk and I feelweird.”
“I feel weird, too,” sheadmitted. “Not about you. The whole wedding... thing.”
“I ate dinner by a bear.” Iheld back a risky burp. “That was the most pants-shittinglyterrifying thing I’ve ever lived through.”
“I know!” Her enthusiasmwas a little too loud. I held the phone away from my ear. “It satat the table like a person and ate off the plate!”
“They served it a meal.”The mind boggled at that. “Scott said they do that all the time. Ifthere’s a holiday or a party, the bear is there. And he said Daisyused to sleep in her own twin bed in Lauren’s bedroom.”
“Do you think they’ll takeDaisy on their honeymoon?” Charlotte joked. “She could take photosfor them.”
“Probably not. Havingwitnessed her trick for drinking out of a glass, dexterity is nother strong suit.” I groaned. “I never want to be that close to anyanimal that big, ever again.”
“Yeah,” Charlotte saidquietly. Then, “Do you really want me to come over and spend thenight?”
“I reallydo. And that’s not the booze. I like you.” I stopped to quicklycorrect myself. “Notlikeyou, like you. Not ‘do you like me, checkyes or no.’ I like you as a friend I have sex with.”
“I appreciate that. I alsolike you as a friend you have sex with.” When she said it, thewords didn’t sound quite as stupid. “Okay. Give me fifteenminutes?”
“I can come getyou—”
“No, no. You stay rightthere. You don’t want to be the first alligator casualty on one ofyour own properties.” She did make a very good point.
“Okay. I will stay put. I’llhave somebody meet you to bring you up.” And in the meantime, Iwould brew every k-cup in the kitchen and try to sober up enough tohold a conversation.
Not sober enough to makesure your dick works?I hadn’t eventhought of that. I’d invited her over without intending to havesex? That wasn’t like me.
Unless…
“I’ll see you soon,” shepromised. “Don’t fall asleep.”
How could I fall asleep? Iwould miss precious time with the woman I was about to have a very,very difficult time letting go.
* * * *
(Charlotte)
I knocked on the doorshortly after our call, and he opened it almost before I dropped myhand. Like he’d been standing right behind it, waiting for me. Hegrinned, threw his arm around my shoulder, and guided me throughthe door on a waft of peppermint and booze.
I pushed him gently away.“It’s not working.”