Page 75 of Cross Check

Me

I’m not a violent person, but he deserved some sort of punishment for his comments.

We didn’t date much longer after that.

GE

If I play horribly, it’s because I’m too caught up in wishing I had seen that happen in real life.

You win the secret of the night.

Me

Thank you very much! What do I get as my prize?

GE

A gold star.

Me

I do like positive reinforcement.

Are we going to keep doing this?

GE

Could be fun. One secret a day until we run out.

Me

Sounds like a plan to me.

Have a good game, Grant.

GE

Thanks, Amelia :)

“Why are you smiling?” Lainey asks.

“No reason.” I turn my phone so the screen is down on the restaurant table and focus on my friends sitting across from me at happy hour. “It was a stupid meme that made me laugh.”

“You’re such a liar.” Sienna narrows her eyes. “That’s not a meme laugh.”

“It was funny!” I wave them off and pick up my menu, giving it a scan. “I’ve heard great things about this place.”

“We had to pick somewhere new after Lainey broke it off with that chef of hers.”

“It’s not my fault he was married with two kids and living a secret life.” Lainey finishes off beer and scoots the bottle to the edge of the table. “Men really have the audacity to try me.”

“You have a face that makes people think they can get away with anything,” Sienna says. “But I say that with love. We all have our faults.”

“I didn’t know this was going to turn into a forum where we aired our flaws.” I shut the menu and lean forward, smirking at my best friend. “Please tell me what our faults are.”

“Mine is thinking I can fix a man. Someone broken? Someone who has been through hell but refuses to go to therapy and get the help they need?” Sienna holds out her arms with a grin. “I can make them brand-new… until they revert to old behavior, and I’m left picking a new patient.”

“That’s scarily accurate.” I laugh. “We all like to believe we can be the problem solver, but we never are.”