Page 130 of Error Handling

I’m not usually touchy-touchy, but the gesture is reassuring.

“My mom happened.”

“What did she do this time?”

I tell her about my week of balancing my time between my parents. She needs to know the whole story, though. The parts I’ve been keeping from her because she’s my boss. Right now she just feels more like a friend. I back up and tell her about the “love triangle,” how I kissed Christopher and then Chris.

Cassie’s expression is concerned, but she starts tapping her toes and wiggling her shoulders.

“Go ahead,” I say.

“You kissed ChristopherandChris? And you enjoyed it both times?”

“Multiple times. And yes. And this isn’t helping.”

“I’m sorry. I know. I’m just so...”

“Proud of yourself.”

“No, proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m definitely uncomfortable.” Turns out unrequited love is much harder on the endocrine system than no love at all.

“I’m sorry.” She frowns and grows still. “What happened? Did they find out about each other?”

I tell Cassie I cut things off with Christopher when Chris and I started making out.

“Making out!?” Cassie squeals.

“Shh!”

“Sorry.” She ducks. “You made out with Chris?”

I nod.

Cassie starts tap dancing under the table again.

“You haven’t heard the worst of it,” I say.

“I should calm down, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes.”

Next, I tell Cassie about today’s beach day with Chris, about the moment he committed to being my boyfriend, and then the text from Christopher that ruined it all.

“I convinced Chris to stay for dinner anyway—my mistake—and I was starting to break through to him. I think. But then my mom called him an HR rep. And she implied that Chris tinkers on houses when he’s a talented home repairman.”

“A handyman.”

“Yeah.”

“Even you can’t say it.”

“Say what?”

“That Chris is a handyman.”

“So?”