Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Me: I’m just … Thank you for making this happen!
Francine: It wasn’t me. It was teamwork. Now go celebrate.
I glance up, but Audrey is trading book recommendations with Astrid and Kim. So I hop to my Social account, find a suitable picture of me looking like I have a secret, and type out a caption.
@giannaknowsthingspod: I know something you don’t know … but I’ll share it with you. Soon.
Almost immediately, my notifications pop off. The number climbs higher and higher. My inbox number grows until the count maxes out, and my text alerts ping my phone. I could sit in this moment and absorb this reaction forever. But before I close my screen, I notice one comment that piques my interest.
@drakestakepod: The options with you are endless.
I laugh to myself, imagining the little grin cracking his cheeks and the tease in his voice if he were saying this aloud. I give his comment a heart and then respond.
@giannaknowsthingspod: I like to keep things interesting.
@drakestakepod: I don’t think you need to try so hard.
@giannaknowsthingspod: Can’t help it. It just comes naturally.
The replies to our exchange are a wildfire, an assault of marriage proposals to Drake, and a nice mixture of comments to me suggesting that I’m either the greatest podcaster ever or that I should off myself for daring to breathe. But then there are the other, far more entertaining comments suggesting that Drake and I have dated, are dating, or should date. Gotta love social media.
Kim is gone when I lift my gaze to my friends. Astrid and Audrey are engaged in a conversation that has Audrey biting her lip. I set my phone face down on the table and lock in.
“I agreed to teach a couple of online philosophy classes next semester,” she says. “I hope it’s enough to get my juices flowing again.”
“I’ve told you,” I say, smirking. “I know people who could have your juices flowing in ten minutes tops.”
Astrid stifles a laugh as Audrey looks slightly horrified.
In some respects, it’s altogether amazing that Audrey has reached the age of twenty-seven without being sullied. She has been friends with Astrid and me since high school, after all. But Audrey has held tight to her convictions. As much as I tease her about introducing her to the wilder side of life, namely, enjoying a sex life without feeling guilt or remorse, I respect her choices. I’d probably die if she ever took me up on one of my offers.
But that doesn’t mean that I don’t try—especially because Audrey has seemed a bit down since the beginning of summer. She spent months finding ways to hang out around “her crush” and had finally talked herself into shooting her shot … only to discover that he’s engaged. I’m still heartbroken for her.
“I’m joking, but I’m also not,” I say. “Maybe it’s time to throw a little caution to the wind, Auddie. Let your hair down. Have some fun.”
“While I appreciate your concern, I’m not sure our definitions of fun in this context match very well,” she says sweetly.
“Maybe not. But I don’t think we’re as far apart as you might think.”
Astrid groans. “I can’t wait to see where you’re taking this one, Gianna.”
“Patience, grasshopper,” I say, laughing before returning my focus to Audrey. “Isn’t it true that Socrates believed that the more you know, the better choices you can make to find true happiness?”
“Yes,” she says, curiosity thick in her tone. “How do you know that?”
I throw up my hands. “Why does everyone today seem surprised that I have smart friends?”
“Gianna must be fucking a philosopher,” Astrid whispers to Audrey just loud enough for me to hear.
“Fucking a philosopher?” I gasp. “I would never. Take that back. No offense, Auddie. Your philosophy doctorate is super hot. I’m just not sure it would be on a guy. I mean, the only visuals we get of that sort of thing are busts of serious-looking men with no glasses.”
Astrid shakes her head, grinning.
“Glasses would help.” I shrug. “Think about it.”
We pause our conversation to chitchat with Kim as she doles out our dinner. The asshole customer finally left just moments before Kim lost her cool. We try to distract her with tales of our week until another server calls her away.
Astrid waves at someone across the room. “Excuse me for just a second. I need to say hello to someone.”
“Sure,” Audrey says as Astrid stands.
We watch as she approaches a very handsome man standing at the front of the restaurant. He’s much taller than Astrid, with sandy brown hair and a solid jaw. He carries himself with a sexy confidence that reminds me of someone else I know.
“I didn’t say that I’d win. I just said I’d be happy to give Gianna a chance to handle me. Sounds fun.”
A smile tickles my lips. That it does, Drake.