Page 46 of Let's Talk About Love

“That’s what I just said. I also told you about them yesterday,” he said. “Are you all right?”

“I’m sorry.” She covered her face. “I know I’m being stupid and saying stupid stuff. It happens when I get overwhelmed, and I just assaulted a house becausethat’s smart.”

“Hey.” He stood in front of her. “Calm down. What happened?”

“I just wanted to wear a cute costume, you know? And everything was great, but then Feenie and Ryan left me and boys are awful whenthey’re drunk and I can’t even get drunk to drown my disappointed sorrows because Jesus knows it’s not safe in there. And I’m just somadI could spit.”

“Could you do it in that direction?” He nodded behind her.

“‘Spitting is the epitome of unladylike behavior,’” she recited out of habit. “My grandma says that. You’re only supposed tosayyou’ll spit, not actuallydoit.”

“Okay.” Takumi’s slight smile made her feel a little bit better. “You wanna get out of here?”

“I can’t,” Alice said, wishing she could say the opposite. “Feenie wants to meet you.”

“But I thought you just said they left?”

“Technically. They’re upstairs. They wanted to be alone.”

“Ah. So Feenie and Ryan are together?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, deflating into a pool of misery. “They’re getting married soon.”

“Ah. Got it. My best friends got married a couple of years ago. What a weird thing to have in common.” He put his hands into his pants pockets and rocked on his heels. “It must be tough. It was for me anyway, at first. Suddenly being the third wheel.”

Alice nodded, feeling calmer. “I think they try hard to make sure I don’t feel that way, and I truly appreciate it, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t happen. I’m pretty used to it, though. It’s just tonight was supposed to be our thing and they made it a Them thing.”

“Hmm. That sounds like you’re off the hook for sticking around,” he said. “They can have their thing and we can have ours.” He held out his hand for hers. “Are you hungry? I know a place.”

She stared at his hand for a moment, biting her lip. “I’m always hungry.”

(Holding hands didn’t mean anything.)

(People did it all the time.)

(He was being nice because she was upset.)

(He didn’t want her to feel alone. Maybe.)

She took it—his callused palm and fingers warming her skin.

“Who are you supposed to be anyway?” she asked as they walked toward the driveway.

“You don’t recognize me? I was sure this would impress you.” He squeezed her hand.

She tried to figure it out, but her brain was too full of everything else to play Spot the Reference. He pushed a button on his car key. A dark blue car’s light flashed as the doors unlocked.

“His first name is Philip.”

“Fry!” Alice gasped. “Oh my God, so you do knowFuturama?”

“It’s actually one of my favorite shows.” He rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. “We should watch it together sometime.”

CHAPTER

16

It had to be the grungiest diner in existence.