Free Tonic by Staci Hart Page A

not interested in ruining my career, and D …” I trailed off, still mad but unable to think of a fourth point.
    She waggled her brows. “The D is the single reason why you will bang him.”
    I fumed. “I’m not having sex with him, Roxy! Why are we even talking about this?”
    “Because you’re in denial, Cleopatra. I’ve been there, where you are. You can’t ignore that kind of physical attraction, even if that’s all it is. I tried, which resulted in me getting knocked up.”
    I opened my mouth to ask her who Kira’s father was, a secret guarded with her life apparently, in part because it kept me up nights wondering, but mostly to do whatever I could to take the heat off me.
    She waved me off before I could speak. “Don’t even ask. We’re talking about you. You like him. Why won’t you admit it?”
    “I just fucking did!” I almost yelled it, and Roxy made a face before looking over at Kira, who sat coloring at the table with her stuffed bunny sitting in her lap like he was watching.
    “I just don’t get it. He’s obviously into you if he sat here all day with only Kaz to keep him company while he read a romance novel.”
    “For the last time. I’m not interested in hooking up with him or dating him or even thinking about him outside of work. I didn’t ask him to stay. I didn’t want him here. I don’t want him to be into me, and I’m not into him. Okay?” I found that I was trying to convince myself just as much as I wanted to convince Roxy.
    She was almost pouting, but in an angry way.
    “End of story.” And I felt that was the absolute truth. I felt the desire for separation seep from my head down into my heart like roots of a tree. I was resolute, and when I made a decision like this, when I dug in my heels, I wouldn’t change my mind.
    Roxy knew this, and said, frustrated, “If you say so.”
    “I say so.”
    “Then that’s that.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “By the way,” she started before punching me in the arm.  
    “Ow—” I cried, but she was already talking.
    “Why didn’t you call me? If you really didn’t want Hairy here, I could have come over.”
    “Because you’re busy and I didn’t want to bother you.” I rubbed my arm. “That hurt.”
    “Good. That’s for being presumptuous. Always call me, okay? You had a concussion for God’s sake, not period cramps.”
    I chuckled. “All right. I’m sorry.”
    “Me too,” she said, not elaborating, not needing to. I reached for her hand.
    “I’m glad you’re okay and that Hairy was here to take care of you.”
    “Thanks. Me too.”
    “So, are you feeling okay now?”
    “Better than earlier for sure. I feel like I should be hungry, but my stomach is a little tender. I just came down to see if Joel was still here and to try to get him to leave again.”
    “I don’t think he would have.”
    I sighed. “Me neither. You’re right about him being into me, and it’s not that he’s not … I mean, you’ve seen him.”
    She laughed.  
    “But it’s just a bad idea.” My stomach clenched, though I pinned it on the concussion, not the thought of him and me doing the naked tango. “It can’t happen, and it won’t. But he’s … persistent.”
    “Well, so are you, so I don’t doubt you’ll remain at an impasse forever. A couple of gluttons for punishment, if you ask me.”
    “I didn’t ask you, so feel free to keep it to yourself,” I half-joked.
    She rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. Want to watch TV?”
    I yawned, surprised that I somehow still felt sleepy. “I think I’ll head back up and read for a bit before sleeping some more. I feel like I could sleep for a week, honestly.” I hauled myself off the couch and yawned again.  
    “Don’t forget your tea.”
    I picked up the monkey mug and found myself smiling down at it. “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. Just text me if you need anything and I’ll bring it up.”
    “Really, thanks, Rox.”
    “Anything for you. Now go get yourself better,