Page 26 of The One Where They Fall in Love

“I’ll lay off when you get your head out of your ass, Ollie. You’re not the only one with problems.”

“Soph, come on—” I start, but she hangs up before I can finish.

She’s right, I don’t know what I’m apologizing for. I don’t know what Sophia wants from me. I don’t know what everyone wants from me. I just want to scream, “I’m doing my best! This is me trying!” at all of them.

I run my hands through my hair, trying to ease the tension out of my head. And then a cold, wet nose presses against my arm and I smile. This dog…

*

“What is this?” Henry asks. I’ve just sent him a text message even though we’re right next to each other.

“It’s Elle’s number,” I say through gritted teeth.

Henry looks at me funny. I’m lying on a towel on the cushioned floor of his gym, waiting for him to close up for the night. I would never actually lay on this floor without something under me. Plus, there is so much sweat pooling off of me that I could probably make a sweat angel with my arms and legs. But I can’t try because Thor is laying on the mat next to me. His back is up against my side, and he’s out cold. I spent a good half hour at the punching bag, getting out my frustration from speaking to my sister. My conversation with her just cemented why Elle is better off with Henry. Clearly, I did something to upset Sophia, and I don’t even know what it was. Wherever I go, relationships crumble.

“I’m confused,” Henry finally says.

“I figure you’re used to that feeling by now,” I snap back, unable to laugh at my own joke.

“I thought you two—”

“We’re not,” I answer too quickly, my tone harsher than I mean it. “We’re actually kind of…friendsnow. It’s weird, but she asked me to tell you she’s interested, so do with that what you will.” I wave my hand at him flippantly.

“She’sinterested?” He purses his lips to the side, like he is unsure what that wording should mean to him. I know I signed up for this self-torment, but I think I underestimated how much it would suck to see someone else, let alone my best friend, go out with Elle. Especially since, the more I think about it, they have a lot in common and want the same things. While Elle and I… don’t.

“Well, she thinks you’re cute,” I reply, closing my eyes, willing this conversation to end. I try to keep my face stoic,so he can’t see how much encouraging him to do this is hurting me.

“Ugh,cute, really? She used the wordcute?”

“Well, the exact word she used was adorable.”

“Fuck off, you’re messing with me.” He kicks my leg and makes Thor jump.

“Not a word of a lie, I swear!” I say, kicking him back, and I can’t stop myself grinning at his annoyance. Busting Henry’s balls is one way to help me forget the cloud of sadness that is hanging over this situation. “It’s not my fault you have a short man complex.”

“I’m 5'10", I amnotshort,” he says, talking more to himself than to me.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself, bud,” I say, putting my arms behind my head.

“And you’re sure you’re okay with this?” he asks, trying to match my gaze.

“Yes, so please stop asking,” I reply, my patience wearing thin. “Now text her so you can finish cleaning this place and we can get some food. I’m starving.”

Thirteen

Elle

Everything about Henry Sanchez screamshappily ever after.

He’s charming. He’s funny. He understood the yellow picture frame that I have around the peephole in my apartment. He’s very handsome—the perfect combination of high school football captain and dark romance love interest. His hair is short and neat, and thankfully, he doesn’t use product. Guys who put gel in their hair instantly give me theick.

He’s smart. He went toStanford. He runs his own business, which he wants to franchise. He is close with his family and has one older sister. She has two kids who he loves immensely. They live in Connecticut, but he sees them as often as he can.

He shows me pictures of himself holding freakingbabieswith a huge grin on his face. That is how perfect he is.

I’m determined to make this date amazing. I want so badly to forget about the nagging thought I have in my head, the one about a certain doctor who wears beanies and buys themost adorable toys for his dog. Because that thought isn’t going to get me anywhere. I have a great guy sitting in front of me, and I refuse to focus on anything but him.

“It’s funny. When we met the other day, I thought I’d seen you before.” He twists his face, like he is trying to remember where he knows me from. “Around my gym, maybe?”