Page 22 of The One Where They Fall in Love

“I’m not saying that I want to take care of you, or that you need taking care of—”

The furrow in my brow deepens. She sighs and takes a few steps over to the stoop of our building and sits on the steps, where Thor eagerly tries to jump into her lap. She runs her hand up and down his back and he pants contentedly.

“My parents got divorced when I was six, and my brother has a disability, so I’ve always been a caretaker. I’m good at it. I help people get what they want. And now that Lucy moved away, my sidekick tendencies haven’t been indulged as much.”

I’m about to say“Isn’t that a good thing?”but she takes my momentary silence as an opportunity to continue pleading.

“Please, let me be your New York City tour guide. You’d be doing me a favor, really.” This is not the same excited voice she had a few minutes ago. It sounds a bit more forced.

I’m surprised by how much I appreciate her telling me something personal about herself. Because regardless of whether I have feelings for her or not, I like getting to know Elle. Iwantto know more about her. Her presence is kind of addictive. Which may or may not make this plan a bad idea.

“That sounds like a lot of you going out of your way. And you’re already watching my dog for free…” I look down at Thor, who has moved on to playing with a bug on the ground.

“Then you can do something for me too, if it will make you feel better,” she says, her face brightening because shethinks she has me.

“Like what?”

Elle looks around, as if the answer is going to materialize out of the sidewalk. Her gaze pauses down the street for a moment, and I can see her considering something. She opens her mouth to speak, stops herself, and then does it again.

I look back in the direction we came from, and remember Elle calling Henry adorable. I can’t believe the next words that come out of my mouth.

“Henry?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“What?” she says, pretending like she wasn’t just thinking the same thing.

“I could set you up with Henry, if you want?” I shrug, as if the movement will make this moment hurt a little less. I have no right to be hurt, given that I basically told Elle that I can’t be with someone that way, but the sting is still there.

“And what? Tell me what he likes and stuff?” she asks, a hesitant tone in her voice.

“What helikes?” I repeat, raising a brow in alarm.

“Food, art, music!” she exclaims, softly punching me. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

It takes a moment for the reality of this situation to sink in. A moment ago, the thought of Elle calling Henry adorable was enough to make me nauseous, and now I’m, what… her dating coach? What kind of rom-com alternate dimension is this?

Everything in my brain wants me to say,no! Say no! We can’t go out with her, but that doesn’t mean Henry should!

“That’s kind of weird, don’t you think?” I say, contorting my face to match the uncertainty in my chest. I suggestedtelling Henry he could ask her out. This is taking it to another level.

Elle doesn’t answer right away, and I can see her swallow, as if pushing down something she wishes she could say. “Why would it be weird? You’re likealmostmy friend now. Or at the very least, my not-completely loathsome neighbor. You can help me win him over, can’t you?”

Can’t I?

There’s no reason that I shouldn’t be able to do that. That’s what she’s saying. She’s giving me the chance to sayno, actually, I can’t do that.Because I think you’re funny and cute andIwant to ask you out.But I can’t. God, throw some self-sabotage into this alternate universe, why don’t you?

“Sure, I can do that,” I say, clenching my jaw. I feel something twist in my gut when the words leave my mouth.

Elle nods, and I swear I see the same bob in her throat. She holds out her hand. “Friends?”

I try not to focus too much on how her soft hand feels in mine, or the warmth in my chest at her touch.

“Friends.”

Eleven

Elle

A lot happened Wednesday morning with Oliver at the park, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it all.