Page 73 of Mom Com

“Look Mads,” she says, “I know this is tough as shit for you. I’m not diminishing that. But just like you gave me advice, I’m going to give you some. Don’t let what happened all those years ago take away something that might be really good for you now.”

I stare at her, wanting to argue, to tell her she doesn’t actually know what happened all those years ago because she wasn’t there. But I know that’s unfair and more importantly, I know she’s saying it because she cares. “I kind of hate you,” I say, in a tone that suggests the opposite.

“Well good, then I’m on brand.”

We both reach for our drinks.

“You know what?” Liv says, swallowing. “I have an idea.”

I give her the side-eye. “Why does that make me nervous?”

“Because you know it’s going to be on point?”

I’m unconvinced.

“Remember that bet we made? I would argue that I won,” she says, and as I open my mouth to protest, she lifts her hand. “And you, I’m certain would argue that you did. So why don’t we call it a draw?”

“Okay,” I say slowly, not sure what I’m agreeing to. “I think I can get on board with that.”

“Great. Because then we both get to pick a prize.”

Curveball.

“Why didn’t I see that coming?”

“I really can’t answer that for you, Mads. It was broadcast like a mile away.”

I want to laugh, but I’m not sure I’m going to think whatever she chooses is funny. “What kind of prize?”

“Considering our conversation—”

I cut her off. “No, definitely nothing related to our conversation.”

A small smirk appears on her red lips. “Considering our conversation, I think we should each choose something that’ll be good for the other, something that might help us solve these issues we don’t know how to deal with. Not something broad likespend more time with my girlfriendorreally think about what the bakery means, but something tangible, like a one-off event just to dip our toes in and see how it feels.”

I stare at her, chewing on the inside of my cheek, both intrigued and wary.

“What do you say? Are you brave enough to run a little experiment with me? Are you still that daring girl who once roller-skated across the teachers’ lunch table because Matt Mazzeo said she didn’t have the balls?”

I huff. “Don’t do that. You know I can’t say no to a dare.”

“How about this, if you’re worried, you can go first. Pick whatever you want, and I promise mine won’t be worse.” But by the way she’s looking at me, we both know she’s got me, that she’s pushing all the right buttons.

I glare at her in response. “A one-off event, right?”

Liv’s smile widens in victory. “Yup.”

“Okay then,” I say. “Give me a minute here.”

“Take all the time you need,” she says, reclining in her chair and popping a potato chip in her mouth.

But it only takes me a moment to run through everything I know about her and her girlfriend, one detail in particular standing out above the rest from that dinner I had at her house last week. “Okay, Liv... Invite your girlfriend home for the holidays.”

The calm composure she brandished a minute ago vanishes as she sits up so fast, she chokes on her chip. “Wow. You went right for the throat.”

“What?” I say, the picture of innocence. “Even if she’s spending the holidays with her family, it’ll let her know how much you want to be with her. She’ll think it’s sweet and considering tomorrow is Christmas Eve, it’s a low-risk ask.”

Liv shakes her head. “She’snotspending the holidays with her family. She’s in the city.”