Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Bare.
I groan in bliss. In joy. In exuberance. In ecstasy. But not in fucking jocundity.
Sometimes the word of the day should be a much simpler one. One you can use easily in a sentence. Maybe even while you’re doing two things at once, like talking and loving.
So I do as I thrust up, saying, “I’m so happy when I’m with you.”
She moans as she grinds down on me. “You make me happy.”
Those are my four favorite words of the day. Or, really, of all my days.
45
THE FRIEND ZONE IS THE BEST ZONE
Rachel
“Welcome to the first episode of Heartbreakers and Matchmakers. I am your host, Monroe Blackstone.”
We’re in the podcast studio the next week, along with Monroe’s cohosts, who he introduces next. “And this is Jack and Vanessa Larkin. They’re—wait for it—happily married.”
Vanessa smiles then says into the mic, “And Monroe’s—wait for it—happily unmarried.”
“And perennially jaded,” Monroe adds, and I smile sadly, but not too sadly. Monroe has mostly accepted the unraveling of his marriage. “And that’s the point of this show. You’ll get all our perspectives on romance.”
His attention shifts to Carter and me, parked across the table from the podcast hosts. When Monroe invited us on a few weeks ago, I’d said yes, thinking we’d talk about our “dating experiment.” At the time, that was all it was. I don’t think I had fully processed, even then, what was happening in my heart. It took me a while to see what was in front of me all along.
Now, here we are, together, and it feels so right.
Monroe tosses out the first question. “So, you did this series for an app on how to go on dates. Basically, a tips-for-dating show, which is something a lot of people are eager to find out about. But I’m thinking we maybe ought to retitle that…How to Date Your Best Friend?”
“Or Five Un-Dates to a Real Date?” Carter suggests.
“Or Girlfriend Lessons to a Real Girlfriend,” I offer.
“Let’s talk about how it all started,” Monroe says.
My guy looks at me with a glint in his warm brown eyes. “Well, it all started when I met Rachel Dumont in high school…”
A few days later, we’re at a warehouse in the Dogpatch district. Pop music plays while some guests stuff themselves into photo booths to snap pics while others battle it out with retro board games like Clue.
Carter and I survey the scene from a corner near the stage. It’s a fiesta of possibilities. And my romantic heart—full of all the good vibes now—can’t help but imagine the new couplings starting tonight.
“What’s your bet on how many of these friends will end up just like us?” I say to my guy.
“Depends on how lucky they are,” he says, looping an arm around my waist and kissing my cheek.
My man is so affectionate. So possessive. He loves to touch me when we’re alone, but he loves to touch me in public too. Pretty sure he wants the world to know I belong to him.
And judging from the way he kissed me at his football game last week—a toe-curling, knee-weakening kiss in the stands—the world does know.
Which works for me.
“Good point,” I say, then I spot Fable and Elodie near the entrance, handing out gift bags that include Fable’s eggplant necklaces and Elodie’s chocolates.
But that’s not the most interesting part. What’s more intriguing is that Wilder Blaine has just arrived at the door.
“I didn’t expect to see him,” I whisper.
“I didn’t either,” Carter says, sounding a little surprised too.
From our vantage point, I study the charismatic man, and for a few seconds, I swear he’s looking at Fable with a spark in his eyes.
Or wait, is it Elodie? Because now he’s talking to her.
Maybe he knows them both? I have no idea, but I’ll have to ask my friends later.
For now, my boyfriend and I head to the stage to host this kickoff party for The Friend Zone.
At first, I wasn’t sure we’d be such good hosts anymore, since we’re no longer just friends.
But the thing is—we are still friends.
We’re best friends.
We’re just more now.
Sometimes friends become lovers—like we did when I learned to trust my heart. And to trust the strength of our friendship.
I guess it’s a good thing I accidentally flashed him my boobs one fine day. Later tonight, when we’re home alone, I’ll do it on purpose.
EPILOGUE
HOW TO HOLI-DATE
Rachel
I’m dreaming of a foggy Christmas doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but does it ever work for this evening. As I peer through the window of my jewelry shop at the misty night sky, I remember why returning home was the best decision I ever made.
When I moved here from Los Angeles several months ago, I was hoping I’d lick my wounds, see my friends, and start over away from the painful memories.
Now, I have so much more, including regular customers, and as a new business owner on busy Fillmore Street, I’ll take that any day.