BooksBarbecue
Back The Companion Project
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RB: I think it’s perfectly valid to be hesitant.

JD: Thank you. I’m sure you’re used to this. I’m not. This is all new to me. Talking to women, I mean.

JD: Not that I don’t talk to women. Trust me, I do. I mean in a non-sexual way or a “you’re my fake girlfriend” way. I’m still learning the ropes.

RB: I’m happy to be your guide :)

JD: My hero! *insert Olive gif here*

RB: Haha, okay, Popeye! I’ll let you go. I don’t want your friend to think I’m taking up too much of your time.

JD: Probably for the best. He’s very demanding of my attention.

JD: I’ll text you later?

JD: How was your date?

RB: I’m turning in early, so I’ll talk to you sometime soon.

RB: The date wasn’t great. Not a good match.

RB: Have a good night!

Why am I relieved to hear her date didn’t go well? Why is there a burst of satisfaction knowing she’s already home, not still out with someone? Why am I a jerk who is about to jump for joy knowing she had a terrible time?

Maybe banging a hot woman would help take my mind off this confusion swirling around my brain. Maybe it would point me in the right direction and nudge me down the path I should take. Maybe it’ll provide the clarity I’m seeking, so fucking over this uncertainty.

When our waitress returns with our check, I sit up straighter in the booth. “Are you doing anything tonight, Lexi?”

She grins, leaning her forearms on the table just enough to where her cleavage is threatening to tumble out of her shirt.

“Nope. You’re my last table.”

“What a coincidence. Want a ride home?”

“I’d love that,” she purrs, taking my card to ring us out. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“I’m so glad I got to witness that little sex fest,” he observes, pretending to gag.

“Shut up. You’re just jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what? Hooking up with a random woman one time and forgetting her name in the morning? No way. I think deep down, you’re the jealous one, wishing you had something like what Rebecca and I have. Something like what Jack and Jo have. You’re 31, man. Do you really still enjoy this casual hookup shit?”

“Maybe I am jealous,” I admit.

A committed relationship like what my friends have has never, ever been a desire of mine. I don’t want to wait up for a girlfriend to come home from work and make dinner with them. I don’t want to cuddle in the morning and drink coffee together in bed, our matching pajamas discarded on the floor while our naked limbs tangle together.

At least… I don’t think I do?