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“Shut up.”

Pulling a Phoebe—fromFriends—is a secret running joke between us, especially after Tina sneakily tried to move out the same way Phoebe did from Monica’s apartment while head-over-heels Rohan remained clueless to his girlfriend’s sneakiness.

Tina took being a fan of the show to a whole new level.

Thus, proving that men have an attention span for two things—food and sex.

Of course, it was sad and a big disaster when he finally noticed her lack of stuff. That led to a very ugly confrontation. But two years later, I can’t get over the hilarity behind it all.Seriously, I commend my best friend’s determination to avoid rejecting or ending things.

I wipe a wayward tear away from my eye as my laughter dies down.

“Phoebe is my role model; I won’t hear a word against her,” utters Tina in a mock no-nonsense tone. “Now please, tell me you’ll go on the date.”

“Fine.” I hear her clapping excitedly and hooting, making me chuckle. “When is the date?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Nope,” she answers with apop.

Of course, she’ll spring it up at the last minute. “I could be busy, you know.”

“Are you?”

I begrudgingly mumble, “No.”

After working nonstop for three years as a senior consultant for a multinational IT company, which I joined after my graduation, I decided to quit three months ago. Everything was good. I was a part of an amazing team, working under a cooperative manager, but my heart wasn’t into it. Like most millennials, I followed the crowd on the boring path, aiming for a stable nine-to-five job. But a year into the job, I knew it wasn’t for me.

Baking was the only thing that brought me any semblance of excitement, peace, and joy. A hobby I was amazing at. I never thought of turning it into a full-time career until COVID hit and I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I began learning, improving, and trying new recipes. Cakes, waffles, pastries and whatnot.

Soon after the lockdown was lifted, I tried selling my baked goods to my friends and the families in my neighborhood. Their response was nothing short of shocking and spectacular. Ithit me then that I could make a living and, maybe one day, open my very own small café.

Determined, I began saving money from my day job. I was working from home, which was a blessing, as it allowed me to focus on setting all my ducks in a row before I gave my boss my three months’ notice. The day I clicked ‘send’ was so exhilarating and freeing.

Of course, I celebrated it with Tina, who couldn’t be more excited for me.

She stood by me and encouraged me when I doubted myself.

So even though I’m making a fuss about her insane request, I will never say no to her. Because with her, I’ve never been able to refuse. She and her parents are my real family.

“I swear I was going to tell you sooner but my editor is on my ass to submit the article I’m writing,” Tina explains apologetically. The stress is visible in her voice.

“It’s okay. I don’t have any deliveries tomorrow, so my schedule is free.”

“Thank God!” Tina exhales over the phone, her voice brimming with relief and excitement. I could imagine the weight lifting off her shoulders a little. “You’re the best, Tink.”

Just hearing the immediate pep in her tone puts me at ease. “Now tell me all about this eligible bachelor I’m meeting.”

CHAPTER – 2

Twinkle

His name is Julian middle-name-I-can’t-remember Kashyap.

Thirty-one years old. Interracial parents. Tall, dark, and handsome. CEO of some hotshot company whose name I can’t recall either. Not that it matters. I’m here to shoot down the guy, not get to know him. He obviously isn’t all that interesting if Tina couldn’t bother to come herself.

I just want to be done and go home to binge-watchBridgertonfor the hundredth time. Drooling over all those sexy dukes never gets old.