“It’s like I said. We have been hanging out for a couple of months. Nothing serious, at least not on my part.”
PJ gave him a mocked shocked face and laughed before responding.
“Does she know it’s not serious?”
“She should. The only place she ever goes with me is to bed. This is only her second time hanging out in my home. The first time I was drunk off my ass and discarded my rule. This time she worried the shit out of me to come over and meet you. I thought she was excited.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna say that’s a no. That woman is threatened by me. Did you even tell her you would be living with a sexy ass woman? You know these basic chicks can’t handle the truth!”
“You are so stupid. No wonder I missed you. I have been hanging around with these boring people. I am so fucking stoked you are home.”
They stayed upstairs getting reacquainted for hours. When they finally came downstairs to start dinner, they noticed all of PJ’s luggage and things from her car were sitting near the door.
“How did they get in to deliver my stuff?”
“Oh shit! We forgot about Carla!”
“Where the fuck is she?”
“Carla? Carla?”
Latti looked at PJ who was doing her best to hold in her laughter. PJ watched as he searched his house for his friend to no avail. When he returned to the kitchen where his friend was waiting for him, he looked sad.
“What’s up, Latti? Did you find her?”
“She left a note on the table. Apparently, I suck as a boyfriend. Good thing I’m not one.”
“Does she really think you all are together?”
“I guess. No matter how many times I told the woman we were just hanging out, she refused to accept it. Now that you’re here, you can help me better articulate that fact.”
“Don’t put me in the middle of your mess. If I was her, I would never speak to your trifling ass again.”
“What’d I do? Hell, she invited herself over here and then insulted the best friend I have in the world. She did that shit to herself.”
“Damn! You’re cold blooded, bro.”
“Whatever. You didn’t like her anyway.”
“True! Now, what’s for dinner because I am starved.”
“Well. I was thinking you could cook my favorite dinner tonight. Are you too tired from the drive?”
“You know what, you make me so sick. I am tired as hell, but I’ll see what I can whip up. I don’t have time to marinate the steaks so I might have to do something quick.”
Lattimore chuckled as she stood there confused. What was so damn funny anyway?
“I figured you’d say that, so I already marinated the steaks, just like you showed me the last time you cooked for me.”
“Did you wash the meat first?”
“You know I did. What do you think I am, an amateur?”
PJ went to work cooking Latti’s favorite meal of steak, twice baked potatoes and broccoli. They sat out by the pool enjoying their meal as the sun set over the city. It would have been romantic if she and Latti were a couple. Too bad they had never been attracted to each other. They had grown up together being raised by PJ’s mom, so they felt more like family than friends.
Instead of romance, the friends chatted about their lives, caught up on dreams deferred and finally discussed her new role as CFO of his company. She was excited to start her new role and looked forward to helping her best friend to reach his goals. She was the only person he trusted fully. She knew this. PJ would rather cut her arm off than to let him down.