“You’re not playing games. If anyone’s playing games, he is. You’re a successful writer doing what she needs to do for her career and you’re also a single woman. There’s nothing wrong with what’s happening here.”

I fold my arms behind my head as I look up at the ceiling. “Maybe.”

“Try to make something happen for tonight and don’t tell Ryan where you’re going or when you’ll be back. The less details you give, the better.”

“Tonight might be pushing it,” I say, scouring my brain for a dating prospect.

“You don’t have anyone you want to go out with?”

Well, there is someone.

I grab my cell phone from off my bedside table and unlock it. Jen crosses her arms with a villainous smile as I switch off Celine and scroll through my recent calls until I find who I’m looking for. I hold the phone to my ear and start talking once I hear the beep.

“Hey, Maggie, it’s Kara. I’m just curious to see if you met up with Kyle yet. I have a question about his friend Adam.”

12

I do a spin in front of the standing mirror in the corner of my bedroom, watching my blue short-sleeved sundress rise and fall as I twirl. A few seconds later, I walk out into the living room feeling confident in my comfortable but fashionable wedge heels. My hair is washed and blown out, I shaved my legs above the knees and I’m wearing mascara. Basically, I’m a supermodel.

Ryan is sitting with his laptop at the kitchen table and I give him a quick smile before scanning the room for the boho purse I want to take with me tonight.

“You going out, Sullivan?” he asks, taking in my appearance.

I pretend not to hear him right away. “What’d you say?”

“I asked if you were going out.”

“Oh, yeah, but I shouldn’t be too late.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m meeting some friends for drinks.” I find the bag I’m looking for on the hanging coatrack by the door.

“Nice. Where?”

Interested, are we?

“Just to a bar.” Moving over to the entryway, I pull the bag down and take inventory of what’s inside, trying to decide if I should bring my whole wallet with me or just my license and a credit card.

“I’m sure you are going to a bar,” Ryan says, “but which bar?”

“Why do you care?”

“I’m just curious.” He pauses. “Wait, are you about to commit a crime, Sullivan?”

I pivot around to look at him. “And why would you ask me that?”