Anyone But Rich (Anyone But..., #1)(47)

Iris nodded. “The best friendships are the ones that are full of past drama and infighting. I mean, how else do you know it’s good if you never test it, right?”

“Thank you for trying to make me feel better,” I said. “But I promise I wasn’t intentionally trying to test our friendship. It means more to me than anything.”

“Well,” Miranda said. “I owe you an apology anyway. Asking you to choose between Rich and us was way over the line. Especially in front of him. You had every right to tell us to go fuck ourselves.”

I smirked. “I don’t think those were the words I used.”

“Of course not,” Iris said. “You were all polite. Actually, I think I’d prefer to pick the one who isn’t being a big meanie, thanks.”

I laughed. “I don’t sound anything like that.” I took a deep breath and braced myself for what I was about to say. “But I have to admit something.”

“Oh jeez,” Iris said.

“I have feelings for Rich. He broke things off with me, but”—I swallowed hard—“I wasn’t happy about it.”

Miranda raised her eyebrows. “What are you saying, exactly?”

“I’m saying that I can’t come here and pretend I’m some changed woman and the idea of being with Rich is behind me. I have trouble thinking about anything but him. He’s on my mind constantly.”

“Especially in the shower with that detachable showerhead of yours, I bet,” Iris whispered.

I glared but couldn’t help smiling. Miranda was grinning, too, which was a relief to see. I knew it was weird for both of them, but I sensed that they were slowly coming to terms with the idea that I had feelings for Rich, even if Miranda was coming along more slowly than Iris.

“I’ve never masturbated in my life,” I said. “Thank you very much.”

Iris nearly spit out her coffee. “Oh, obviously. Because that dildo you forgot to put away when we visited your dorm in college was just for clubbing home invaders, right?”

I sat up a little straighter. I’d forgotten about that particular experience. “The point is that I have feelings for him. Okay? It probably doesn’t matter now, because he decided I’m better off without him.”

Miranda’s foot was shaking a little aggressively, and she looked like she was fighting not to say something.

“What?” I asked.

She stared at the ceiling a few seconds before finally blowing out a sigh. “I can’t believe I’m going to actually encourage you here, but are you really going to let him decide what’s best for you?”

“Wait,” I said. “Is that question the same as you giving me your blessing to date him?”

“It’s me saying that you shouldn’t let some rich asshole decide how you live your life. If you want him, take him.”

“For clarification,” Iris said quietly, “you probably shouldn’t take that advice literally. Because, you know . . .”

“As much as I appreciate the advice, I’m pretty sure it isn’t going to matter. He made himself pretty clear last night.”

“Come on,” Miranda said. She seemed to be focusing so hard on winning the argument that she was forgetting she was trying to reignite a relationship that had very nearly ended our friendship just a few days ago. “The guy mauls you one night, and then he shows you his dinosaur bones the next. I think we can pretty safely say he wants you. He just thinks he’s being noble by turning you down. You go to him and you say fuck that.”

“You could also say fuck me,” Iris suggested.

I slumped down on the table and let my forehead bang painfully against the wood. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll just clear out the ice cream aisle at the grocery store and watch some movies tonight.”

“Not by yourself, you won’t,” Iris said.



Cade and Stella were sitting in my tiny condo. Surreal didn’t begin to describe it. One moment, I’d been moping around the house with a stomach that was not happy with the quantity of ice cream I’d forced into it last night, and the next, them. They looked so out of place on my dingy little couch.

Cade had somehow decided to open the drawer by the couch and discovered several of my works in progress. There were sweaters for everything from ferrets to gerbils, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anyone look as amazed as he did. He was picking each one up, holding it in front of his eyes, smiling, and then carefully setting it down in front of him on the coffee table.

“We actually didn’t come here to admire your tiny-sweater collection,” Stella said. “Though it’s a very nice collection.”

“It’s more like a hobby,” I muttered. “Extra pocket money.”

“Right, well . . . I’ll get straight to the point.” Stella sighed as if she knew she’d regret what she was going to say. “Rich needs you. He’ll never admit it, and I’m sure he’d be content to go on punishing himself by avoiding you, but he needs you. You brought out a better side of him.”

Cade nodded. “He wasn’t as cranky when you two were, you know. Coupling.”

“We never—” I started, then stopped myself. What we did or didn’t do wasn’t their business. Then again, I was painfully desperate to find my way back into Rich’s life. Stella’s words felt like a thread of hope, and I knew I’d grasp it, no matter how unlikely it was to work.