Page 44 of Mutual Discord

Sofia: I’m flattered you took a moment out of your busy day to reach out to your lowly friend. That was nice of you.

Alex: Lowly? Shut up. And honestly, if I sent a text to you every time you crossed my mind, your phone would crash.

And right there in the produce section I almost started crying. Full-on ugly cry by a mound of sweet potatoes and pumpkins. God, I didn’t know what to do when Alex said things like that. Didn’t he understand what his sweet sentiments did to me? I swallowed down a knot of tears as it occurred to me that maybe he did. Alex wasn’t stupid. What reason did he have to be so attentive to his girlfriend’s best friend? Unless keeping me on the line was some sort of twisted backup plan should things not work out with Caitlin.

I smacked a hand over my face and groaned. Alex didn’t seem like the type to lead women along. He’d been honest with me from the beginning; from before we knew each other as Alex and Sofia, even. This problem—this inappropriate attraction—was on me. And I needed to stop reading into his words and imagining romance where there was none.

It was better to change the subject, and my fingers flew over my screen.

Sofia: So are we still on for the game this weekend?

When it took a few minutes for his reply to come, I thought perhaps I had hurt his feelings. Mentally chastising myself, I filled my basket with onions, garlic, limes, and a bunch of cilantro. I almost jumped when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Alex: Can you and Denise go? You haven’t said.

I pursed my lips as I stared blankly at the display of yogurts, sour cream, and various shredded and sliced cheeses.

Sofia: I haven’t heard back from Denise yet, which isn’t like her. I’m guessing it will just be you and me. Is that okay?

Holding my breath while I pressed the send button seemed apropos. I grabbed a container of vanilla Greek yogurt and then a brick of Parmesan cheese and stepped down the pasta aisle. There were plenty of pasta boxes in my pantry, but carbs seemed like the answer to all my worries. Some gnocchi lathered in a brown butter sauce covered in Parmesan sounded like heaven.

As I reached the wine aisle, my phone vibrated again.

Alex: I’m offended you have to ask if it’s okay. I invited you, remember?

A chuckle bubbled up my throat, and I set down my basket to type my reply.

Sofia: Yeah but you’re allowed to take back the invitation if Denise isn’t coming. We both know that she’s the fun one.

Alex: Do we both know that? And either way, I extended the invitation to you, so it’s you I was hoping to see.

A spark of delight streaked through my body like electricity, and I legitimately shivered. Embarrassment and shame followed soon after, and I quickly glanced about, as if my fellow shoppers would notice how inappropriately I was responding.

Unsurprisingly, a bottle of sauvignon blanc made its way to my basket because liquid fortitude was suddenly necessary. Surely it would help me get myself together.

My groceries were paid for and stored in the back seat of my car before I felt ready to reply to Alex. I was staring at my phone, typing out and then quickly deleting the words, when a FaceTime request filled my screen.

“Hey,” I said as soon as I answered. “Where you been, loca?”

Denise huffed a breath and pushed several braids over her shoulder. I couldn’t remember the last time she had looked so disheveled, and with the dark marks under her eyes and the sharp pinch to her mouth, it was obvious my poor friend was exhausted. “I’ve been up to my eyeballs with this goddamn project, and it may kill me.”

“Ugh,” I said. “I figured you were slammed and that’s why I hadn’t heard from you.”

“Yeah, they have us working around the clock, and I’m dead on my feet.” Denise released a long sigh, and her shoulders slumped. “So I doubt I’ll be able to make it to the game this weekend. But please thank Alex for me.”

I was shaking my head before Denise finished speaking. “But it’s only Tuesday. Things may have cooled off by then.”

Denise narrowed her eyes. “I mean, I hope. But if I’m even half as tired then as I am now, I’m just going to want to sleep.”

A frustrating mix of glee and panic merged into a lead ball in my gut. If I went to the game, it would be just Alex and me. Like we were on a date.

“Sorry to bail on you again.” Denise rubbed her brow. “First homecoming and now this. I would be depressed about my lack of a social life if I had even a second to think about it.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, embarrassed to be worried about spending time alone with Alex when my friend was struggling. “I’ve missed you. I feel like there’s so much to tell you about homecoming and everything.”

“Well, the end is in sight, and as soon as I regrow some brain cells, let’s get dinner.” A voice offscreen called Denise’s name, and she turned to speak with someone I couldn’t see. A few mumbled words were exchanged and Denise nodded. “I have to go, Sof. I’ll be in touch as soon as this bullshit is done.”

“Okay. When you’re ready, I’ll cook for you,” I said impulsively, knowing Denise liked my cooking.