Page 3 of Just Friends
“No,” Autumn replied. “There’s tequila in the cabinet and mixer in the fridge.”
Rebecca mixed freestyle margaritas in the kitchen and passed them out. “Okay, go on.”
Hannah sipped and nodded her approval. “Well, I had this girl in for a cut, and she was from over in Martin talking about this guy she’d taken home. And said his name was Weasel, and she thought it was a fake name,” Hannah chuckled. “He was upfront about it being a one-time thing. Let’s just say she was happy with the experience. From what I gathered, it’s pretty big, too.”
“No,” Rebecca cried, covering her ears. “Don’t say things like that. I can never un-hear that; we’re just friends.” Hannah and Autumn laughed. “So, he’s a slut,” Rebecca quipped. “And you want me to sleep with him?”
“I think,” Autumn interjected, “that something’s changed in him, recently.” She gingerly scooped a spoonful of baby food off of Danny’s chin and into his open mouth.
Rebecca rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, he doesn’t seem to go out searching for one-nighters anymore,” Hannah said.
“I’m not looking for anything serious, but still, I don’t know if I can get past the man-whore part,” Rebecca said.
“Who’s a man-whore?” Dan asked. The three women jumped and faced toward the doorway where Dan, Brandon, Justin, and of course Weasel stood. How long had they been standing there?
“No one,” all three women responded in unison; they stared at each other and busted out laughing. Dan, Justin, and Weasel pointed at each other.
“Well, they’re not talking about me,” Brandon said.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Autumn said. “You might be, but it’s Ben’s problem.” That brought another round of giggles out the women.
The guys glanced at each other. “Are ya’ll drunk?” Justin asked.
“Wow, in the time we took to light a bonfire and a grill, you ladies got lit,” Dan said.
They crossed the room and Weasel moved to Rebecca’s side and lifted her glass, smelled, and took a drink. “Hey, that’s mine,” she protested.
“Good lord,” he coughed making a face. “You realize you’re supposed to put in more mixer than tequila, right?”
She shrugged. “I may have mixed it just a teensy bit strong,” she answered. She held up her fingers showing a minimal amount then snickered.
“Who’s the man-whore,” Dan asked, sitting next to his fiancé and planting a kiss on her neck. She shivered and giggled. Rebecca’s eyes rolled in her skull. Autumn deserved every bit of happiness she now had. Rebecca delighted in her friends’ good fortune, but to witness such domestic bliss was annoying.
“Someone I’m trying to set Rebecca up with,” Hannah said with a sly smile. There was a gleam in her eye. What was she doing? It was for no other reason than to incite Weasel. He’d never let that statement go; she felt his attention land on her.
“You tried to set her up with a man-whore?” Dan asked.
Hannah shook her head. “That’s her excuse.”
“Look,” Rebecca said, needing to nip this quickly, “I realize we’re all codependent here, but my romantic life is not a group decision.” She pointed at Hannah. “Or up for debate.”
“Romantic life,” Hannah said. “What romantic life? Your vagina’s growing cobwebs.”
Choking out a laugh, the heat coming off her face might light a fire all its own. “I don’t tell you everything,” she said to Hannah with as much dignity as she could muster. “Besides, I could have had a hot date and not told you.” She continued to ignore Weasel.
“In this town,” Brandon scoffed. “Highly doubtful.” A date would turn into town gossip.
“I wouldn’t be happy about that,” Hannah said and paused for a beat. “I know, we’ll set up one of those online dating profiles.”
Rebecca choked. “Absolutely, not.” It had to be about provoking Weasel. Why Hannah and Autumn wanted them together, she had no clue. “I’m not doing that.”
“We’d have to carefully vet anyone before you go out with them,” Dan said.
She shook her head. “I’m not interested in that. Besides, you never know what they smell like.”
“Excuse me,” Brandon said. “Smell?”