I looked at him for a couple of seconds and shrugged. "So do you know what movie you want to watch?" I said quickly, changing the subject again.
"I thought we discussed that we would figure that out," he said. "So how many boyfriends have you had? How many men have you seduced and given lap dances to and..."
"How many women have you given lap dances to, Foster? How many women have you slept with? How many women have lain in your bed with you?" I paused as I realized my voice was getting loud, and I was getting upset.
He stared at me for a couple of seconds, blinking. "Do you really want to know the answer to those questions or…?"
"I don't actually. I mean, I already know about Amelia, and I'm sure there are a billion others."
"I wouldn't say a billion, maybe a million." He started laughing, and I rolled my eyes. "But I have dated. What can I say? I live in New York City. I make a lot of money. I like women. I like sex." He shrugged. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"No," I said quickly. "Not at all."
"Good, he said, nodding. "I mean, I know we've kind of crossed a very blurry gray line with our fun little dances with each other, but maybe we should abstain from doing stuff like that."
"Oh" I said. I could feel my heart racing in disappointment. "Did you not really like my lap dance or giving me one or…?"
"I mean, it was fun, and we had fun, and it was a good time, but I just don't want..." He stared at my lips. "Well, you know."
"No, I don't know. Please explain to me, Foster."
"I just don't want us to blur anymore lines. We're living together and there's just a lot going on. You're looking for a job. I'm figuring out if I'm going to take this promotion. You're looking for a boyfriend. I'm looking just to have fun. You're my sister's best friend. And you know, you live with me. It just could get really complicated really fast."
"If that's your way of telling me you don't like me, that's all you have to say, Foster."
"No, that's not what I mean. I mean, you're beautiful. You're sexy. I would fuck you in a heartbeat if you weren't my sister's best friend. What can I say?"
I shook my head. "I'm just going to go to the restroom," I said. I hurried to the restroom and closed the door. I took a couple of deep breaths. Not only was I angry but I was super turned on. And I shouldn't have been turned on. It wasn't like he'd said anything sexy or sensual or made me feel special. But the way he'd said that he'd fuck me with that raw animal instinct, it had turned me on. And for a few minutes, I had almost wished that I wasn't Rosalie's best friend as well. For a few minutes, I wondered what it would be like to be in a purely sexual relationship with him. He was hot and fun and charismatic, and I knew I wouldn't regret giving myself to him.
But I also knew I would regret it if it ruined the friendship that we did have, the chemistry and the connection that we had. Because even though we weren't in a relationship and even though we weren't dating, we had something special, even if it was just a friendship. And I was loathe to lose that. I was loathe not to have him in my life again. We'd come so far from who we were as teenagers and I wasn't sure it was worth giving that up.
Chapter21
Alice
"Rosalie, there's something I would like to tell you, and I just need you to promise that you're not going to be upset at me." I gave my best friend my best pleading face.
Rosalie stared at me with a slight look of bewilderment on her face. "What's going on, Alice? Why are we here?” She looked around the fancy wine bar I'd taken her to. "Not that I'm complaining." She laughed. "But did you get a job or something? Are we celebrating?"
"No, but I wanted to treat you."
"You don't have money to treat me to a place like this," she said, shaking her head. "Come on, let's leave. We can go somewhere else."
"No, I think you need some good wine to hear what I have to tell you."
"You're scaring me, Alice. What is it?"
"So..." I took a deep breath. "I just don't want you to be mad at me. I just want you to know that the reason I never told you is because... I don't know, I was embarrassed and—"
"Oh my gosh, what is it, Alice?" Rosalie was starting to panic now. "What is going on? Are you pregnant?"
"What?" I stared at her, my eyes widening. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't know. That's the only thing I can think that would have you acting like this."
"I'm not pregnant." I started laughing. "I just—"
"Good evening, ladies." A server interrupted us.