She looks completely serious, so I toss a balled-up napkin at her head. We both laugh when it hits her smack on the nose.
“If it were me, and I really liked Cole, like you do, I’d stay with him in hopes of getting what I want eventually. But there’s a point where I’d say enough is enough. You can only hold on for so long. Unless you don’t care it’s only sex and nothing more serious. But you know, us women, we tend to care.”
She makes a good point.
“Find out what your point is. What does Addi want? Be free and single? Try things this way with Cole? Or maybe you want to settle down because you’re tired of the dating game. Whatever it is, girl, it’s your choice. Don’t let a man control any of it.”
I beam at her. “Since when did my best friend get so damn smart?”
We laugh and toast each other.
I shake my head, unsure of what I want. Who knows? None of it makes sense.
I down the rest of my drink. “Fuck.”
Leigh raises her eyebrows.
“You’re right, okay? I’m way over my head. Like bottom of the ocean and no way back up.”
“Oh, man.” Leigh sighs.
“Something else bugs me too.” I haven't mentioned this to anyone yet.
“What? Oh, god.” She takes a large sip of her drink. “Please don't tell me he's a murderer or something.”
I give her a look. “Of course, you take it there. And no, nothing like that. He knows Finn.”
Leigh sputters, almost choking on her drink. “Finn? You mean Finn, your evil dickhead lying, cheating boyfriend from New York?”
“Well, that's one way of putting it, but yes, him.”
She waves her hand around frantically. “I'm lost. How in the hell?”
I explain to her what I saw outside the shop the day before I started working there. Finn hasn't been around since, but I know what I saw. They definitely didn't have a friendly conversation.
“So Finn lives around here?”
“I have no clue. I've seen him twice now. Maybe he vacations here during the summer, the rich asshole. He never opened up much to me and was always so guarded.”
Leigh signals the bartender for another round of margaritas. “Well, the plot thickens, my friend. Have you told Cole?”
“No … I wanted to, but then I figured why bother? It probably doesn't matter. Maybe Finn was rude in the store, and Cole simply kicked him out.”
“Did you tell Cole you're in love with him?” I love how she completely changes the topic as if I wouldn’t notice.
“Are you crazy? He'd probably run scared.”
“Men are so annoying.” Our drinks arrive, and we both dive in, each of us licking the sugar rims, our favorite part.
“Even amazing Joe?” I giggle into my drink.
“You know it, girl. Mmm, that dick, though.” Leigh blushes and licks her lips at the same time. My mouth drops open, shocked at the things this girl says sometimes. “What do you think you’ll do?”
“I don’t know yet. I really don’t. Hopefully, I figure myself out soon.”
* * *
Cole