She purses her lips and considers. “A good training ground.”
“Training ground?” I ask, not at all liking the sound of it.
“Hey, you’re the one who said you need practice. And who better to show you the ropes than the Dating Huntress of Portland?”
I snort. “I thought you said just this morning that you want a steady boyfriend?”
“I do. Doesn’t mean I’m not really good at playing the field. Stick with me, my young apprentice.”
“That’s my plan,” I say, hopping off her desk. “Meet at seven?”
“Perfect,” she says. “Hey, you br
inging Ben?”
I give her a look. “I thought we were over this.”
She gives me an innocent look. “Well, I’m just thinking that a guy’s perspective can’t hurt here.”
“I’m aware,” I say dryly. “And I have every intention of him being my other wingman. But not unless you promise me that you’re not still harboring your crush.”
“I don’t have a crush.”
I lift an eyebrow, and she groans. “It’s just that he’s gorgeous, Parks. You don’t see it, because you two have that weird blindness-to-each-other thing, but trust me. Ben Olsen is exactly the type of man that every woman should have in her bed at least once.”
I point a finger at her. “No. Promise me. No hitting on Ben.”
Lori’s lips move into a pout that somehow works for her. “But why?”
“Because despite all your Huntress of Dating babbling, I know you want something real,” I tell her, keeping my voice gentle. “And I love Ben to death, but the guy is not cut out for commitment.”
“Maybe he just hasn’t met the right girl.”
“I mean this with love, but I don’t think you’re the first girl to think that.”
Lori sighs.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I say.
“And if I just want to use him for his beautiful body?”
“Don’t be gross. And I’ve seen the way you laugh way too loud at his jokes. You’re halfway to a full crush, and not just on his biceps.”
“And yet he never makes a move,” she says, tapping her lip. “Am I not his type?”
I roll my eyes. Lori is definitely Ben’s type. Lori is every guy’s type. But I’ve given him this exact same warning. Not just about Lori, but all of my friends. It’s one of my house rules:
Don’t hit on my friends.
It’s not that I think every girl falls head over heels in love with Ben or anything, but if one of them does and gets hurt, I’m terrified of having to take sides. Of losing a friend.
“Seven o’clock,” I repeat, backing away from her. “I’ll bring Ben if you promise not to cop a feel.”
“I promise. But only because tonight is about getting your lady parts juiced up. Not mine.”
“Shhh!” I hiss, looking around.
She glances toward her cube wall. “Chris, are you over there?”