“What does that mean?” I ask, suddenly defensive that neither my friends nor family approved of my ex-fiancé.
“It means…good the hell for you.”
I can’t help but smile.
“Marshal?” Linda asks. “Are you still willing to hook me up?”
“I don’t remember that I ever was. Remember, Marshal and I have a few agreements and understandings. He’s not allowed todatemy friends.”
“Hmm,” Ashley says. “You called him...?”
“I did. He’s been great. Very supportive.” I take a sip of the still-hot coffee. "Like he's always been."
“Like, jock-strap supportive?” Marcy asks.
I nearly spit out my coffee and look at her. “Jock strap?”
“Supportive in thenether regions,” she confirms as she wiggles her eyebrows.
I take a deep breath, trying to hold back my smile. “Maybe.”
“Anything more?” Ashley asks.
I shake my head again. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. We've been friends forever. That’s all it will ever be.”
Ashley stands. “Eric and I were friends long before we were lovers. Two kids later, I think there’s something to be said about dependability and reliability. Has Marshal always been that person for you?”
“Yes,” I reply sheepishly.
“And have you been that for him?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love him?”
I don’t have to think about my answer. “Yes.”
“Like a brother?” Linda asks.
I take a sip of my coffee. “I don’t know how to define it anymore.”
“I think you can safely answer that you’re not setting me up with him,” Linda says with a grin. “And here I was willing to give you up for him.”
“No, you weren’t.”
A smile spreads across her face. “Never. I think you should see where this goes.”
“I think I want that.”
“And I’m not even mad about your present,” Ashley says. “I’m going to keep it.”
“Well,” I say, “I’m getting a new bed. I’m not keeping one where Jack screwed a bimbo.”
“Burn that baby,” Marcy says.
“That was my first thought.”
“Bonfire at Sami’s,” Linda says.