Stunned, I stopped outside our courtyard gate. “That’s not true.”
She pulled away. “I can’t even look at you. You would never let them make you feel like this.”
“Uh, hullo.” I waved my hand in front of her face. “Were you not here these past few months, watching me wallow in self-pity over a certain handsome young man with the surname Caplin?”
She snorted but still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Claud, we’re allowed to have bad days, okay? Today is a bad day for you. That’s all. This shit with your parents is not going to change you. Please don’t let it.”
“And Beck?”
I cared about Beck, I did. And I know he cared deeply for Claudia, but right now it wasn’t enough for her and I felt like we’d had this conversation one too many times. “I think maybe you had the right idea last week.”
“Cutting him out a little?” She shrugged. “He got all broody about it and I caved.”
“Well, this time, don’t cave.”
She shot me a droll look as we walked toward our building. “Oh really? It’s that easy.”
“Okay, maybe not. Maybe you just need a distraction.”
“A distraction?”
“Yeah.” I thought of the one thing that had distracted me while Jake was dating Melissa. I grinned. “You need Lowe.”
“Um, I like the guy and all, but I am not sleeping with Lowe.”
“I’m not talking about sex.” I gave her my most serious look. “Believe it or not, Lowe is an incredibly insightful, compassionate, patient guy. He’s a really good friend to have on your side.”
“Jesus, does Jake know you’re half in love with his friend?”
“I am not in love with Lowe. He was just there when I needed him. You should hang out with him. Seriously. Oh, and don’t say shit like that in front of Jake.”
She grinned mischievously and the uneasiness I felt dissipated. This was more like Claudia. “Does Mr. Caplin have a jealous streak?”
“Yes. It’s almost as wide as mine,” I grumbled.
“And you’re positive my hanging out with Lowe won’t incite your jealousy?”
I considered it, letting her walk into the apartment ahead of me. It wasn’t too long ago I’d had a crush on Lowe, but that’s all it was or ever would be. What I felt for Jake… it burned in my very depths. No one had ever come close to making me feel what I felt for him.
He was my missing puzzle piece.
“Nope,” I finally concluded. “He’s sexy as sin and I like him, but he doesn’t come close to Jacob.”
“Aww, Jacob,” she teased.
“Please don’t start calling him that.”
“Oh, I believe you started it.”
“Great. He’ll kill me.”
Claudia laughed, coming to a stop outside her door. Her laughter melted into a smile. “Thanks for making me feel better.”
“You’re my family. I hurt when you hurt.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Dude!” She shook her head as she unlocked her door. “This mascara is not waterproof!”