I’d like to let on.
“That sucks.” I stop staring at her boobs. “How’s she liking it there? She tells me that she likes it, but you know she would never complain.”
I keep the conversation neutral. Unrelated to any part of her body. No matter how sexy those parts may be.
Nora grabs a fork and sticks it into one of the corners of the cake. She tosses it into the sink and turns to me. “She says she likes it. And now that that Mr. Blond Doctor Guy Robert is there, I’m sure she’ll like it even more.”
I glance at her, then at the wall, then back at her. “Hmm.” I don’t know what to say.
I don’t know how much Nora knows about Tessa and Hardin’s breakup, and I don’t want to overshare. It’s not my place.
“He’s cute. Tessa says you met him before, too. He’s cute, right?”
Is he attractive? I don’t even remember what he looks like.
“Oh, come on. Please don’t tell me you’re one of those guys who’s too insecure about his own masculinity to say another man is attractive.” Nora rolls her eyes.
I laugh. “No, no, I’m not. I just don’t remember what he looks like.”
She smiles. “Good. I didn’t peg you as the type. He’s hot, though, take my word for it.”
He wasn’t that hot. All I remember is blond hair. I’m sure he’s not that hot. Maybe it’s that he’s in medical school that makes him more attractive to women? I don’t know.
“Sure.” I shrug my shoulders.
Nora lifts the pan and dishes the steaming broccoli onto a plate.
“Look, I know Hardin is your brother and all,” she begins. “And I also know that Tessa is still madly in love with him, but I don’t think her being out in the dating world is such a bad thing. She isn’t ready now, but as her friend, and completely biased and loyal to her, I want her to be happy.”
I didn’t expect the conversation to go this way.
“I’ve tried to fix a guy before and . . .” She doesn’t finish her sentence. Her voice catches like she caught herself saying something she shouldn’t.
“You’re entitled to your completely biased opinion.” I smile at her to ease the discomfort of whatever it is going on in her mind. “Even if it’s wrong.”
She laughs at this and walks over to sit next to me at the table. “What’s he like, this Hardin guy?”
“You’ve met him, haven’t you?” I have to think back to a few months ago. Yeah, he met her once or twice, maybe. To my knowledge they never spoke directly, but they definitely crossed paths. I think I remember him calling her the wrong name.
“Yes. I’ve met him, but what’s he really like? Is this one of those situations where she’s better off without him, and as her friend, I should give her a push in the right direction, or do they actually have a shot at getting their shit together and being together?”
Nora speaks quickly, like this is important to her. Like Tessa’s well-being is important to her. I like that.
“It’s complicated.” I pick at the chipped paint on the table. IKEA fails, once again.
“But as her best friend and his stepbrother, I try to stay as neutral as possible. I care about them both, and if I ever thought it was a waste of either of their time, I would tell them. But I honestly don’t. I truly believe they’ll be fine. Somehow. And if they’re not . . . well, my whole family is screwed because we all love both of them.”
Nora stares at me, seeming to examine every inch of my face. “Do you always say exactly what you feel?”
Her question surprises me, and she lifts both of her elbows onto the table and rests her chin in her