Page 71 of Not In The Contract

“Don’t put any hoodoo shit on me,” she shot back.

“What if we set you two up on a dating app?”

If I’d had coffee in my mouth, I’d have spit it right out.

As it happens, Taylor did.

“What the fuck makes you think we’d want that?” I sputtered, rapping a hand on Taylor’s back.

She came up with a sniffle. “I’m never coming to brunch again.”

“And I thought I already had someone?” I pointed out, handing Taylor a napkin. She sent a muffled “thanks” my way and blew her nose.

“Do you?” Hayden asked, her eyes sparkling.

I groaned. “You know what?” I sighed. “Brunch was a mistake. We should try again when Hayden is sober.”

“I am sober.” She giggled. “I just love teasing you, my friend. You’re the most difficult person to rile up, I can’t help but push sometimes.”

“You need to find another hobby.” Taylor coughed, finally clearing her throat.

“Eh, this one keeps me on my toes, you know.”

“Frankie, I think you need to be a little more creative in the bedroom,” I teased, and Hayden’s spine went ramrod straight.

“I could certainly spice things up.” Frankie hummed, her smirk turning to a full blown grin as Hayden’s cheeks darkened.

“Okay, you assholes, let up.” Cam chuckled, coming to her best friend’s rescue. “She might evaporate at this rate and then we’ll be one guest down at the wedding.”

“Aw, you always ruin the fun,” Taylor whined, but her smile gave her away.

“You’ll regret it someday.” Hayden pouted, amusement alight in her eyes.

“Sure,” I giggled.

23. What Boundaries?

Devon

Forwhatfeltlikethe seventh time that week, I watched Alex dart off somewhere she had to be.

Without me.

It hadn’t popped up on my radar until the day before, when Tamera asked how things with Alex had been. I’d been about to answer when it struck me that I’d barely seen Alex at all. It threw me for a loop.

Was it because I’d asked about her sister? Maybe she hadn’t been okay with it. Maybe I’d pushed too hard. If there was a boundary I’d crossed, I couldn’t find it. That scared me.

I pulled out my phone and called Tamera. In times of crisis, she knew what to do.

“Hey, what’s up?” she said as soon as she answered.

“This is going to be super out there and random, but what do you do if you think someone is avoiding you?”

“Hmm,” she said. “Is it platonic?”

“You know it is,” I ground out, walking past Katya’s desk with a smile.

“So it is about Alex.” She snickered.