Hate to Date You (Dating #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,51

how to handle him.”

Well, she must since she got him to propose to her, so who am I to argue?

“What about you?” I ask Sarah.

“What about me?”

“When are you and Jared getting married?” I raise a brow.

“I don’t know. He hasn’t asked me yet.” Sarah smiles, as if she hasn’t a care in the world. “I’m sure he will soon. Or maybe he’ll take five years. I don’t know.”

“Jared can be very stubborn when he wants to be,” Candice says with all the authority of a little sister, because she’s exactly that. Jared’s little sister.

“Isn’t that the truth,” Sarah mutters, making us all laugh.

The server shows up, and we all order salads and iced teas. Once she’s gone, both Sarah and Candice lean across the table, their expressions serious.

“What’s going on with you and Carter?” Sarah asks.

I send a questioning glance in Candice’s direction. I’ve not filled her in on my Carter situation. “What do you know about this?”

“She told me everything,” Candice admits.

I roll my eyes. “Sarah. You keep blabbing my business to everyone.”

Candice’s expression is crestfallen. “You didn’t want me to know?”

“I don’t mind that Sarah told you. I just don’t want Caroline to find out.” I wave a hand. “There are too many C names in this friend group, I swear.”

“Why don’t you want Caroline to find out? She’s your best friend. And she’s Carter’s sister,” Candice says.

“That’s exactly why I don’t want her to know. Nothing is going to come of this—of us. I don’t want her knowing I messed around with her brother and it was just a one-night stand.” I make a face. “It’s kind of awkward. Bad enough those awkward vibes are between Carter and me. It would be worse if Caroline was in on it too.”

“I won’t tell Caroline a word,” Candice vows, holding up her hand like she’s being sworn in. “We don’t talk that much anyway.”

That’s a bit of a lie, since Candice has gotten closer to all of us since Sarah brought her into the group once she started dating Jared, but I let it slide. “Just for the record, there’s nothing going on with Carter and me.”

“Really?” This is from Sarah.

“Really,” I say with finality.

“You two live together. I’m sure the sexual tension is off the charts,” Candice says.

“We’ve already done it, so we got the sexual tension part out of the way.” I keep saying this, but it’s not true. The sexual tension is off the charts. Watching the movies with him a couple of days ago was so confusing. I swear he was going to kiss me right before the phone rang with Sarah telling me Candice and Charlie had just gotten engaged.

And I’m not about to tell her about that either. Sarah would get a kick out of knowing she ruined an almost kiss moment.

It wasn’t just that moment in the kitchen that was confusing, it was the entire night. Cozied up with him on the couch, sharing the blanket. Sharing food, yelling at the TV together, taking care of each other by grabbing more drinks, more snacks, throwing away the other person’s trash, for God’s sake. Simple stuff, but it felt…meaningful. All the joking, laughing, getting along like friends, it was easy.

Like we were a couple.

“You’re way too quiet,” Sarah observes, and I sigh, propping my elbows on the table so I can hold my head in my hands.

“Living with him is…confusing.” It’s the only word I can think of to describe what I’m currently experiencing.

“Confusing in a good way or a bad way?” Candice asks.

“Is there a good confusing?” I lift my head, letting my arms drop onto the table.

“Definitely,” Candice says with an authoritative nod. “Is he making you—feel things?”

“Feel things like what?”

“Like does he smile at you and give you butterflies? When he touches you, does he make your skin tingle? Do you imagine kissing him all the time?” Candice’s voice is way too hopeful. Her and Eleanor together would be a romantic nightmare.

“Of course not.” I’m sure both of my friends see right through the lie, by the way they’re looking at me.

“Do you think about kissing him at least some of the time?” Sarah asks.

I hesitate, which is my tell, so I may as well confess. “Yes.” Another hesitation before I admit, “I told him I was a sexual unicorn a few nights ago.”

“A sexual unicorn?” Both of my friends say this at the same time, making me laugh.

“You don’t have to yell it,” I tease them. “But yes.