Chapter 4: Tolerable

SLOAN

After I change into my pajamas and open a bottle of wine, I take up residence on the sofa and get completely lost in my own thoughts.

~How could Archie do this? Why didn’t he plan ahead? Why doesn’t he care? Why doesn’t he call me beautiful?~

Everything about my day with Kade flows back into my mind: the way he knew me and anticipated my every thought; the way he called me beautiful; the way he looked; the way he smelled…

~Oh, shit.~

Just because I’m mad at Archie right now doesn’t mean I need to run into Kade’s arms.

~Remember the plan~.

I try to get lost in a cheesy movie, but my mind keeps running. Finally, my phone beeps. Before I look at it, I try to will it to be Archie apologizing—it has to be.

But when I flip it over, I see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown

Do you still think I’m insufferable?

~Shit~. I shouldn’t talk to him; this is already getting messy.

We’re friends; it’s okay to have friends. ~Friends~.

Sloan

No, you’ve moved up to tolerable.

Kade

I’ll take it. And what about Archie, is he tolerable?

Sloan

Barely.

Shit, did I just send that?

Kade

Whoa. Trouble in paradise?

Sloan

Sort of.

Kade

Talk to me.

Sloan

He is blowing off the party. I’ll have to go alone.

Kade

That sucks.

Sloan

That’s what I said but I’m not allowed to talk like that because it’s not ladylike.

Kade

What? What’s your favorite dirty word?

Sloan

Shit!

Kade

Right. It’s really shitty that he did that.

Sloan

I told him a month ago about it and he said he would come.

Kade

Why isn’t he?

Sloan

Probably because I didn’t schedule my date with his secretary so it wasn’t on his calendar.

Kade

You have to schedule your dates?

Sloan

Yes.

Kade

Sloan, are you hungry?

Sloan

Actually, I’m starving.

Kade

Can a friend bring a friend some Chinese food and hang out?

Sloan

A friend can as long as it’s chicken fried rice.

Kade

That can be arranged.

Sloan

I’m not getting dressed.

Kade

I’m not complaining.

After I text him my address, I start to pace. A friend, a friend… I’m in my pajamas, and a friend is bringing me food because I’m sad. ~Don’t lose your head.~

I down another glass of wine and try to shake the nerves I’m feeling in my belly. ~Why am I doing this to myself?~

Archie would never eat Chinese food with me; it’s below him. He’d order something from his personal chef. He’d never eat dinner with me on a weekday either.

This is fine; even if I wasn’t mad at Archie, this wouldn’t be infringing on my time with him.

Then I remember how sexy Kade is…

~Crap, Sloan, get dressed. But I already said I wasn’t getting dressed. Now I’m having a conversation with myself.~

I dig through my drawers and find the cutest pajamas I have. A light pink night dress with a little robe. ~It’s totally normal that I would sit around in this, right?~

I change and look into the mirror. ~Wow, this is silly.~

When the doorbell rings, I mist a little body spray over myself and pad for the door. When I open it, I try to look as casual as possible. “Hi.”

Kade smiles. “I come in peace, with chicken fried rice and Tsing Tao.”

“What is that?”

“Let me in, and I’ll show you.”

I step aside and let him in.

He places his bags on the counter and starts to unpack everything he brought. “Bottle opener?” he says with a grin.

I find it for him and hand it over. After he pops the top, he passes me a frosty green bottle and then clinks it with his own.

“Take a sip.”

It’s cold and refreshing with just enough bubbles. “Wow, it’s actually really good.”

“Chinese beer for Chinese food.”

“Thank you, Kade, this is really nice.”

“What are friends for?”

“Want to sit down?”

“Of course,” he says, and we both make our way to the couches, where he passes me my food.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I’m not nice, I’m tolerable,” he says, chuckling to himself.

“You know, I’m sort of teasing you,” I admit.

“Sort of?”

I’m not sure what to say, so I just laugh.

“So, what are we watching?” he asks.

“A sad movie.”

“Nope, not anymore, hand it over.” He gestures for the remote.

I pass him the remote and ask, “I don’t get to cry into my wine glass tonight?” In my head, it sounded kind of funny, but now I realize it’s pretty pathetic.

“Absolutely not. How often do you do that?” he asks in shock.

“Uh.”

“Sloan?” he pushes.

“More than I should?”

“Is that a question?”

“Yes?” I admit.

“Never, never should be the answer. Unless a pet or someone dies, no more crying into wine. Just hanging out with your best friend, Kade.”

“Best friend?”

“How many friends do you have, Sloan?”

Yep, I’m not answering that; it’s too embarrassing to admit that I have no social life.

He smiles happily. “See, I’m best by default.”

“I guess you win that one.”

He flips on a weird eighties movie, and we dig into our food.

“Mmm! Oh, my God,” I exclaim after my first bite.

He laughs. “Wow, I’ll have what she’s having.”

“Shut up,” I say, giggling.

“It’s that good?”

“It’s been years since I’ve eaten Chinese food—it’s that good,” I explain.

“Sloan, is Archie going to be mad that I’m here?”

“Doubt he will even notice,” I admit sadly.

“Why?”

“We don’t see each other during the week.”

“So, when do you see him?”

“Friday night for family dinner and then, usually, one other weekend day,” I explain.

“And?”

“That’s all.”

“Are you happy, Sloan? Really?”

“Um, yes, it’s all part of the plan.”

“‘Um’ and ‘plan’ are not usually words that go with happy.”