Mandy raises an eyebrow. “You exchanged phone numbers with a one night stand?”
“It was a mistake, okay? Chemo brain.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You gave him your number before you started treatment. Besides, it’s too soon for chemo brain. Oh,” she says, and her mouth forms into a smile.
“What?”
“Youlikehim.”
I avert my gaze.
She relents, finally, and starts playing the movie again. I read the text that came through.
Rory:You end up being free?
I sigh. It’s Saturday, and he is claiming his date. If only I could go with him. It’s not like I don’t want to go, but I have no energy. I make up an excuse. I base it on truth, so it’ll be harder to slip in my story. I was having enough of a hard time casting the web of lies with Chema and Pili as it was.
Me:Yes. But I can’t. I’m not feeling well.
Rory:What’s wrong?
Me:Just a stomach bug. Raincheck? I wouldn’t want to get you sick.
I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to spin that lie and keep Rory at bay, but I’m not ready to say goodbye to him yet.
“Chica, you should see the smile on your face,” says Mandy.
I roll my eyes and grab a cushion, hugging it to my body. The credits roll, and Mandy and I both sigh after the Beast.
“You know,” she says over the credits’ music. “There’s a massive plot hole in Beauty and the Beast.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Belle should have totally tapped Gaston’s fine ass.”
“No, she shouldn’t have!” I say, appalled at the travesty she just suggested.
“Oh, come on, tell me, if you had been in a little town like that with few options, you wouldn’t have had a little fun with him?”
“He is really hot, isn’t he?” I ask sheepishly.
Mandy nods. “And athletic, which I’m sure is your type.” Mandy stands and stretches her arms over her head. “Between your text from Big Dick and watching Gaston grunt in that fight scene, I seriously want some. I’m going to go see what Chris is up to.”
“Okay. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Sure thing. Oh, tomorrow night, if you're feeling up to it—and only if you are feeling up to it—I’ll pick you up for dinner. We have Sunday family dinners, and you can meet my parents.”
“I’ll let you know if it’s a good day.”
Mandy leaves, and I scroll through movie options to pick my next movie when a knock at the door distracts me. It’s strange because I didn’t buzz anyone up. I wonder if Mandy is back for some reason.
“Did you forget something—” I start to ask, opening the door, but freeze when I see him. For a long moment, I don’t know what to do. My jaw drops.
Rory stands in front of me, handsome as I remembered him, with a grocery sack in each hand. “Can I come in?” he asks.
“Um, sure. Sorry.” I move aside, and he steps through, making his way to the kitchen.
“No offense, but you look like crap,” he says.