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He raises an eyebrow, at least a little surprised at my profane outburst. “And you can find your own way back to campus.”

I flip him off, feeling emboldened, and storm out of the restaurant. I walk for a couple blocks, still fuming before coming across a twenty-four-hour McDonald’s. I duck into the fast food place, taking a seat to text my roommates.

Naomi

SOS. I need a ride back to campus.

Alex

???????????????

Maeve

What happened? Are you okay?

Turns out Elijah is a giant douche-canoe.

Alex

Oh shit.

Maeve

Must be really bad if Naomi’s calling him a douche.

Alex

Drop us a pin with your location. We’re on our way.

“Wait, wait. So let me get this straight. He thought that reserving a whole restaurant would be enough to get in your pants? Does he even know you?”

“Apparently not,” I say, stuffing fries in my mouth. When Alex and Maeve showed up to my rescue, we decided to stay and order some McDonald’s so I could recap the night for them. “Elijah said I was stupid if I thought that a man would do this for me without sex. So I said, maybe I shouldn’t be dating men. Then he accused me of hooking up with Sage. Said some nasty things about her sexuality too.”

“So that’s when you left?”

I nod. “To be specific, I said, ‘fuck you, you can rot in hell.’ Then I flipped him off and stormed out.”

Maeve and Alex both stare at me in shock with their jaws dropped. “You cursed him out?” Maeve asks.

Alex holds her hand up for a high-five. “Hell yeah, Naomi, you tell him.”

I slap my hand against hers with a smile. “You guys are rubbing off on me.”

“Apparently so. Especially if you’re actually considering dating a woman. Or was that something you just said in the moment?” Maeve asks.

I shrug. “I think I just said it in the moment. But I definitely have feelings for Sage. I’ve accepted that much. I can’t deny there’s something there, but I also don’t know if I’m ready to act on those emotions, either. I’m still so stuck in my head over the idea of dating a woman,” I say.

“It’s about time you admitted it!” Alex says excitedly. “Now you need to go on a date with her. Just to get out of your head once and for all.”

I think about it for a little while. “Maybe. I can’t think about going on another date right now though. I’m still reeling from this disaster of a date with Elijah.”

Maeve gives me a sympathetic smile. “Well, just some food for thought. And in the meantime, I propose a toast to you, Naomi. Boys are icky, and you put Elijah in his place. Good for you.” She holds up her cup, Alex and I laughing and tapping our cups against hers.

I’m grateful for my roommates. They turned this disaster of a night into a good one and were ready to come to my rescue. I couldn’t ask for more.

14

Sage