The Ex Files (Ocean View #1)(47)

“What is he saying?!” I turn my body from Gabi to try and keep my phone from her, but it’s no use. For such a tiny thing, she’s feisty and somehow snatches it. Her eyes scan the texts, keeping away from me as I try to take it back. She squeals as she reads. Then she’s standing on a small side table like an absolute psychopath as she types back to him.

“What are you doing, Gabi?!” She just giggles. “Seriously, give me back my phone or… I’m firing you!” She looks down at me and raises an eyebrow. It’s not my best threat; I can’t function without her, regardless of the fact I did it for so long. She’s become my right hand without question. But before I can argue, she hands me back my phone.

Cassie: When are you getting in my business again?

“Gabi!” I shout at her. “That is so inappropriate!”

“Yeah, I know—rule seventeen. All men should make plans. No offense, Cassie, but some of your rules suck. We’re in the 21st century. Welcome. Women get to make the rules now. We don’t just wait around for men to make the first move.” I stand straighter with my hands on my hips.

“Oh, like you do? Who are you dating, Gabi?” I don’t know for sure since we only became close recently, but I’ve never heard of Gabi going on a date or of a boyfriend. The blush on her face confirms my thought.

“You’re just as fucked up as I am.”

“No, I’m not, I just….”

“Just what? What’s the secret you have?” She steps down from the coffee table, the furniture wobbling precariously, but then she sits on the couch and looks at her hands, all joking gone. She’s… nervous. “You don’t… you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. If you’re uncomfortable.” She pauses but then sighs.

“No, fair is fair... I just… I don’t know where to start.” I glance at my phone and see nothing, no dots pending a text, but even if there were, my gut says the right thing to do is lock my phone and toss it aside. Sitting in front of Gabi, I try and make her feel like she can talk to me. Except, I’m kind of shitty at this. Honesty is probably the way to go here.

“I’m not gonna lie… I don’t have a lot of girlfriends. I’m not exactly sure how this works, but I like… this. Being friends. Gossiping and emotional dumping. If you’re open to it, I’d love to… be a sounding board.” There. That felt okay. Not too pushy, not too weird. Right?

Gabi laughs, eyes watering with the action. “You’re the best, Cassie. Yeah, I get friends are kind of not your thing. But I like this too—friends. I don’t have many either. My best friend moved across the country after school, and I’m kind of… shy.” I smile at her, relieved I’m not the only weirdo in this room with minimal friends.

What no one tells you about growing up is while finding a relationship, a boyfriend, or husband, or partner might be difficult, finding friends without the forced proximity of school and classes is really, really hard. Especially when the friends you did have either move or walk down different life paths, like marriage and kids. And when you own your own business with no one you’re actively working with day in and out, like I was for years, you become isolated.

Dating services for relationships exist everywhere, but what women really need is a dating service for friends.

“So shy, that I’ve never…” she pauses, and looking at her, gorgeous and petite and literally a man’s dream in every way, I think there is no way. “I’ve never done anything. Like, at all.”

“You’re a… virgin?” She nods. “You’ve been kissed?” I’m shocked, and it comes out in my words. “Shit. I don’t mean—”She blushes a deep red but shakes her head.

“No, I get it. I’ve been kissed, but not… kissed. You know? I was a late bloomer. Awkward and weird in high school, I grew into myself in college, but by then… boys were rude. When they found out I was a… uh…” The blush is taking over her neck, so I help her out.

“A virgin?”

“Yeah, that. Well, they’d be assholes about it. Making jokes, trying to go for more than I was ready for. I even had a few girlfriends give me a hard time like I was some kind of party trick to show off—‘The College Virgin.’” She sighs, picking at the chipped polish on her fingers, a pretty burgundy. “I stopped trying. It wasn’t worth the headache. I date sometimes. First dates, but nothing really goes past that….” I stare at her, shocked.

“Wow.”

“I know it’s weird, but I—”

“No, not that kind of wow. Like, wow, you’re gorgeous, and I would have never known. Hell, I’m the first person to understand men being jerks and wanting to avoid them at all costs. Hello, you work for me.” She giggles.

“Yeah, that’s why I love this job. What you’re doing? Vetting and filtering out the crappy ones? You’re doing God’s work, girl,” she says with a laugh, and I take my drink, clinking the edge to hers.

“We’re doing God’s work.” My phone vibrates on the table, breaking the moment, and we both look at it and the name flashing across the screen. I pick it up.

Luke: Tell me when you’re free and I’ll be there.

Gabi, who’s reading over my shoulder, squeals, and I nearly pass out with panic.