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“So I’m gonna tell you something,” I start. “And I need you to just listen, okay? No interruptions, because if I don’t get this out now, I never will.”

“Jesus, Zara, did you kill someone?”

His question leaves me stumped. “No, but also, how is that your first thought?”

“I don’t know, Leo is into crime podcasts lately. Blame him.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I ignore Jesse’s detour and focus back on the issue at hand.

“I met someone,” I blurt out. “She’s ten years younger than me, but the age difference feels like a non-issue, so I don’t even know why I mentioned it.”

“You’re rambling,” Jesse informs me, and maybe his interruptions aren’t such a terrible idea. “Where did you meet her?”

“I said no questions,” I argue.

“I’m keeping you on track. Now, tell me, where did you meet her?”

“That weekend I flew to L.A. and you, Leo, and Raine drove up with all the furniture,” I explain.

“Oh, I remember that weekend,” he says. “Have you been seeing someone for that long and you’re only just telling me now?”

“Focus, Jesse, please.”

“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry,”

“We met that night, spent the night together—agreatnight together—but that was supposed to be the end of it.”

“But,” he hedges.

“I didn’t think I was going to see her again, and I regretted it almost immediately because I’ve thought about her on and off for months.”

“Why didn’t you get her number?”

“Fucking hell, Jesse, why are you so bad at listening to instructions,” I shout. “And I didn’t get her number because when I moved here I thought I wanted to be alone, and the one-night stand would be enough.” Lowering my voice, I confess to Jesse what feels like my biggest secret. “Turns out maybe I want what you and Leo have.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Zara,” Jesse assures me. “And you think you could have that with this woman?”

“Clementine,” I correct him. “Yes. No. Maybe?”

I run a hand over my face as I try to collect the right words to explain exactly what I want to say.

“I like her enough to want to try,” I confess. “And nobody has ever come close to that.”

“So, what am I missing?” he asks. “What’s the problem?”

“The other week, Raine brought her friend over,” I say. “She works with her. And, of course, I walk through the front door of my house and who do I come face-to-face with?”

“Fuck me, Zara,” he breathes out, realization dawning on him. “Really?”

“I know,” I whine. “Like, what are the chances?”

“So, what happened?”

I shrug, even though he can’t see me. “I like to believe Raine won’t have an issue with it, and I’m doing my very best not to angst over it. But, obviously, I don’t want tension with Raine, and I don’t want Clementine to have tension with her friend either.

“I may have organized to go on an official first date with her this weekend,” I say. “Just to test the waters. And I told Raine I was going out with someone this weekend. Kind of letting her know I’m invested in someone,” I ramble. “Geez, I hate lying to her.”

“Hey, listen,” Jesse says. “Stop stressing for a minute.” The tone of his voice turns more somber and serious. “You and I got lucky when it comes to Raine. Most of the time she’s the parent, and she has empathy like no other,” he explains. “If she and Leo could work through the last two years, I’m sure whatever happens if and when you tell her, will work out exactly how it’s supposed to.”