“The sexy swimmer,” Roxie added.
I ignored that. “We’ve been hanging out more and having fun. A lot of fun. And I can’t stop thinking about him.”
“And the problem is …?” Cali prompted.
“The problem,” I said, lowering my voice like someone might overhear, “isTheWriteGuy.”
“The online guy,” Roxie clarified.
“Yes. He’s been in my life for months. He knows me. He gets me. And now …” I hesitated, glancing between the phone and Roxie. “Now he wants to meet in person.”
“Ohhh,” Cali drawled, like this was suddenly her favorite piece of gossip. “So you’ve got yourself a little love triangle.”
“It’s not a love triangle,” I insisted.
“It absolutely is,” Roxie said. “Two guys. One girl. Conflict of the heart. Classic triangle.”
I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. “This is a disaster.”
“It’s not a disaster,” Cali said, her tone gentler now. “It’s just complicated. Tell us how you feel about each of them.”
I peeked through my fingers. “Do I have to?”
“Yes,” they chorused.
I lifted my head and blew out a breath. “Fine. Talon … he surprises me. He’s sarcastic and infuriating, but also … safe? Like, when I’m with him, I don’t have to pretend to be anything I’m not. And when he looks at me—” I broke off, heat rising to my cheeks. “It feels like he actually sees me.”
Roxie leaned her chin on her hand, smiling like a cat with cream. “You’re glowing right now, just so you know.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Okay, andTheWriteGuy?” Cali prompted.
My breath snagged halfway out. “With him, it’s different. He was there for me before Talon. When I needed someone, he listened. He encouraged me. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. And I … I care about him. I really do. But I don’t know if what we have online would survive in real life.”
“That’s the risk,” Roxie said.
“Exactly,” I whispered. “And I’m scared. What if I choose wrong? What if I lose them both?”
For a moment, the kitchen was quiet except for the ticking clock on the wall.
“Liv,” Cali said finally, her voice soft but steady, “you’re acting like this is a test you can pass or fail. It’s not. It’s your heart. It’s messy. It’s allowed to be.”
“Yeah,” Roxie added. “And no offense, but you’re overthinking this to death. You don’t have to have it all figured out right this second.”
I stared into my coffee. “ButTheWriteGuyasked to meet. That feels like anowdecision.”
“Did he say when?” Cali asked.
“No. Just … sometime. He told me to think about it.”
“Then think about it,” Roxie said simply. “Don’t rush just because you feel guilty.”
I frowned. “Guilty?”
“Yes, guilty,” Roxie said, pointing her spoon at me. “You act like you owe them both something. You don’t. You owe yourself the truth. What doyouwant?”