“You know, when you asked me out at the last minute, I was really excited. I thought maybe this would be fun, and we could see where it goes. But this isn’t fun and I have no desire to see where it goes.” She turns away from me again.
“Claire,” I say softly.
She turns back to face me. “Why don’t you go after her?” she asks. I open my mouth to ask her who, but she stops me with a shushing motion. “Don’t ask me who! The brunette. Tell me her name so I can stop calling her the brunette.”
“Her name is Wren,” I mutter.
“Why don’t you go after Wren?”
“That…didn’t work out.”
Her face softens. “Why not?”
“She was at a bad place in her life and…” I shrug my shoulders.
“Sometimes people need someone else to walk into their bad place with them,” she says. “Go to her. Lead her out of it. Do whatever it takes, because you’re obviously in love with her.”
“It wouldn’t work.” She wouldn’t even take my calls.
“You should try.”
“I don’t think it would matter.”
She stares at me. “If you want her, you need to let her know.”
The cab pulls up to the corner and she steps up onto her toes to kiss me on the cheek. “If you ever want to take me out on a real date, try to get over her first, okay? It’s not fair otherwise.”
I nod and help her into the backseat. Then I give the driver some cash and tap the top of the vehicle. He pulls away.
What if she’s right?
I pull my phone out of my back pocket.
Ryan has changed the names in it again, but I find her.
Me: It was really nice to see you again.
GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: It was nice to see you too.
I squeeze my eyes tightly together. Because shit’s about to get real.
Me: I didn’t sleep with her.
GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Why not?
Me: I kind of have the hots for this one chick…
GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: What’s she like?
Me: She’s smart and funny and kind. Sexy as hell. And she’s been a little sad.
GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: Why is she sad?
Me: She lost something that was important to her. She’s been a little lost since then, I think.
GirlWhoBrokeMicksDick: She sounds lonely.
Me: I think she needs a friend, and I’m applying for the job.