Page 47 of Pinch

I squat down like I’m shielding the little dog from running into the street. She just sits on her little cinnamon butt and looks up at me.

“Something like that,” I call over my shoulder.

“You are such a lightweight,” he laughs. “I made yours especially mild.”

And I gave it to Gavin.I have no excuse. I only wave at him over my head.

“Okay, we gotta get out of here. See you tonight.”

I wait until the sound of his Rover fades, then I scoop up Patsy and smile at my cousin. “Let’s get some coffee!”

Rise and Grind is packed,and I put in my order for a skinny cappuccino. Gina gets a soy matcha latte. We pay, and then we walk over to a table in a crowded corner to wait.

“I hope all these people means it’s really good.” She looks around the room.

“Don’t worry, it is.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“I thought you said…” Her green eyes narrow, and I panic.

“I forgot I came here a few weeks ago. It just sort of slipped my mind. Probably because I’ve been so focused on school and all. That’s all. School.”

I’m talking too fast, and if anybody knows me, it’s Gigi.

“You’re acting weird. What are you not telling me?”

The guy calls our names, and I hand her Pats. “I’ll get them.”

Walking to the counter, I do some quick mental calculations. I could tell Gigi what happened, but then she’d be invested, wanting to know what comes next, if we’re serious, if we’re going to start dating, if we don’t start dating are things going to get weird at the house, if we do start dating does that mean I’ll move in with him and break up our happy cousin home? What about Karen?

These are all my panicked thoughts, which I’m sure I’m projecting onto my cousin. Especially since I’m the only one who knows Karen and Gav’s history.

“Glad to see you back!” The scruffy barista hands me our paper cups, giving me a flirty smile.

“Oh, thanks. We live in the neighborhood.”

He looks like he might say more, but I lift the cup in a friendly, platonic gesture. He gives me a wistful smile in response, and I head back to where Gigi is sitting, studying me suspiciously.

“It really is amazing how guys lose the ability to function when you smile at them.” Gigi takes a big gulp of her tea. “You should date more.”

“I don’t know.” I sip my coffee, wavering on telling her the truth.

“I was reading online how Jennifer Aniston is dating ahypnotist. Did you see that?” She turns her phone to me, and I lean forward to read the headline.

“A hypnotist?”

“I know.” Her nose wrinkles. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Did he hypnotize her? I mean, he’s not bad looking, but this is Jennifer Aniston we’re talking about.”

We both snort, and this feels better.

Laughing with Gigi and gossiping about celebrities helps me regain my bearings after a night of mind-altering sex with a hockey god who has the body of a Michelangelo sculpture.

Trust me, that can really throw you off-kilter, especially when you’ve spent almost a decade thinking he was not a nice guy.

He might still be bad, but when it comes to orgasms, he is all good. A bubble of laughter tightens my throat, and I have to stop thinking about it before my face turns all red.

Thankfully, Gina’s eyes are on her screen. “I’ve actually been looking into this whole area of pet hypnosis and how it can be used to help dogs with emotional issues… Which leads to the whole area of pet psychics.”