“I’m really worried about her, Alex,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s not acting like herself. It’s weird.”

“It’s probably nothing,” I replied as she walked toward the kitchen. “What is she, twenty-three or something?” Damn, that made me feel old. “She’s probably just finally getting her shit together.”

“Is that why she cut her hair?” Sarai asked. “Is that why she barely texts me anymore? Is that why all of her assignments are suddenly done on time? Is that why she barely goes out and hasn’t even asked to see my new apartment?”

“All of that would be easily explained by a little maturity, yes,” I called, getting to my feet. “Why, what do you think is wrong?”

“I think it’s Sean,” Sarai said, glaring at me as I strode into the kitchen. She took a bite of ice cream straight out of the carton.

“He’s helping her get her life on track?” I asked, my tone a clear indication that I thought she was crazy. “The guy is a douche.” I didn’t understand why Hailey stayed with an asshole like Sean, but I wasn’t seeing the connection between Hailey getting her shit done on time and her relationship.

“I don’t know,” she replied, sounding annoyed. “I just know something is wrong. I can feel it.”

“Then why don’t you ask her about it?” I asked, opening my mouth so she’d give me a bite of her ice cream.

“Because,” she replied, pushing a spoonful into my mouth. “If she wanted to tell me something, she would. Whenever I comment on the changes, she just brushes me off.”

“Okay then,” I said, shrugging.

Sarai made a disgusted noise and spun toward the fridge to put the ice cream back.

“Baby, I’m sure she’s fine.”

“We both know that Sean is a jerk,” she pointed out as she cleaned her spoon.

“Well, yeah. But what does that have to do with your friend finally taking care of her shit?”

“Don’t call her my friend like that,” she replied.

“Like what?”

“Like she’s not your friend,” she mumbled.

I laughed. “Really, that’s where this discussion is going?”

“Well, she’s your friend, too,” she replied loftily.

“Okay, fine, she’s also my friend,” I said. “Because she’s your friend.”

“I just think we should be aware of it,” Sarai said, walking away again.

I followed her into the bedroom and watched her as she stripped out of her work clothes and threw on a tank top and a pair of shorts so short they made my mouth water.

“What am I supposed to be aware of, exactly?” I asked, staring at her bare thighs.

“That Hailey is acting weird,” Sarai replied, snapping her fingers to get my attention. “That something’s wrong.”