Page 36 of The One Where They Fall in Love

Seventeen

Elle

“Show me a picture of him!” Lucy squeals on the other end of my phone.

“You’re ridiculous,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at her.

“Well, you won’t tell me his last name, so I can’t stalk him myself,” she complains. I text her the link to Henry’s Instagram for the gym just to stop her complaining.

“There, are you happy now?”

“Holy crap,” she says, putting the phone so close to her face I can only see her nose. I put my head in my hand, waiting for her investigation to conclude.

Lucy just happened to call me as I was getting ready for my date with Henry, and if I didn’t answer the phone, she would have called in a SWAT team. So I was caught. I got a fifteen-minute lecture for going on dates that she A) didn’t know about and B) wasn’t able to track my location for. I told her Oliver knew where I was. Which led to a ten-minute rant about how she’s been replaced. I didn’t counter with the fact that she’s the one who moved away, becausethen I really would have been late.

When Lucy is finally done stalking Henry’s Instagram, and I’m finished with my makeup, both of our attentions turn back to the screen. I’m sitting at my bar top and she is laying on her couch. I can just barely make out the tip of Blue’s nose on her chest. If I wasn’t already dressed, I’m sure Thor and I would be in a similar position on the couch. Oliver is working until midnight tonight, so I told him I’d text him if I got home later than that, so he could come in and get Thor. Thor is getting better at being alone, but not for twelve hours at a time.

“I have to admit, I’m conflicted,” Lucy finally says.

“About?”

“I think Oliver is cuter. I mean Henry clearly has the bigger muscles, but I worry he is overcompensating for something. Oliver though, there’s no way that it’s nothuge—”

“Okay, stop!” I interrupt too loudly. “Lucy, it’s not a competition. I’m going out withHenry. Oliver is not… We’re not…”

There’s an awkward moment of silence between us.

“Are there ends to those sentences?” she asks plainly.

“Ugh, I can’t have this conversation right now,” I moan, looking at the clock. I’m meeting Henry in a few minutes.

“What conversation?” Lucy sits up abruptly, and Blue whines in annoyance. “What is there to talk about? Did something happen with you and Oliver?”

“Okay,calm, please,” I beg, putting my hand out to the phone. “Nothinghappened, it’s just… I don’t know. We’ve hadmoments.”

“Moments?” Lucy echoes. “Well, Imustalert the church elders.” She laughs at her own joke.

“I’m going to hang up on you.”

“Did you use protection?” she adds, cracking herself up even more. When I give her a death glare, she tries to stifle her giggles. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! But come on, Elle. Be honest. Are you just wasting your time with Henry?”

“I definitely can’t havethatconversation right now. He’ll be here any minute!”

“Do you feel attracted to him, yes or no?” Lucy asks.

“Attraction isn’t everything—”

“It’s abigthing.”

“He’s really sweet—”

“Candy is sweet.”

“You’re not helping!” I whine. I shake my head, trying to somehow escape the awkwardness of this conversation. After a deep breath I say, “It doesn’t matter, Luce. Oliver doesn’t want me. He—”

“I don’t want to hear whathewants. I care aboutyou.” Her voice is stern, all sarcasm gone. She’s gesturing with her hands as she speaks. “Yes, Henry is gorgeous in ashort kingkind of way. But there is never,everany reason to settle if there’s no fireworks. Don’t settle for less than what you deserve.”

I feel a pressure in my chest as she says those words, and I think my eyes might start welling up. I refuse to cry. Ijustgot my eyeliner right.