Sway

Mutual Friends

Going to Target in New York City is like asking to be pushed off of a cliff.

Okay, that was a slight overstatement, but seriously it's insane. People are everywhere, shoveling items into carts and trying to manage rebellious kids as they dig in their noses and run around the luminescent store. Phineous and I stayed close together as we entered the superstore, frequently squirting hand sanitizer into our palms.

"We're here for board games and alcohol, nothing more!" He leaned down to whisper yell in my ear.

I pushed him away, "Yes! I know, so let's get it done!"

We speed walked down the isles, all the way to the back of the red and white store. I silently hated that the board games were in the same area as the toys, it meant that we'd be surrounded by all the snot nosed kids. As we stood in front of the plethora of board/card games, I made an annoyed face by a set of twin boys that were throwing a football over Phineous and I.

Both of us shared a look and it made Phineous laugh, "How the hell are you planning on dating someone with a baby, if you can't handle kids?"

I shoved him hard for the second time today, "Shut the hell up! Charlotte and I aren't dating, and I don't mind kids... that are well behaved."

He couldn't stop laughing, his firmly gelled hair shining underneath the lights. "You aren't dating... yet," He emphasized.

I ignored his comment and scanned the shelves for Cards Against Humanity. After finding the black and white rectangle box, I grabbed it along with Codenames. Two of my favorite party games.

We chatted for a bit longer about the new games on the shelves, and then started walking towards the alcohol isle. I didn't want to buy too much, considering that Charlotte was bringing Evan. I was sure that she wouldn't mind us drinking, but I was still going to stick to water all night. I didn't want to be inconsiderate of the baby.

Just as we reached the isle, my phone buzzed from a new text message. It was from Riley,

"Hey! Should I bring anything tonight?"
- 4:32 PM

I know what you're thinking, 'did she really invite Riley?'. Yes, I did. Like I said before, she's such a good person and I want her in my life as a friend. I was hoping that I could make the boundaries clear tonight. According to Phineous, it's very obvious that I have deep feelings for Charlotte whenever she's around.

"Nope! Just bring yourself."
- 4:37 PM

Of course Phineous was leaning over my shoulders as I sent my response. He had his arms crossed and his head was shaking, "I'm so fucking ready to witness this weird love triangle."

Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I rolled my eyes and finally went down the isle with different wines and beers. "It's not a love triangle," my hand grazed a pinkish Chardonnay, "I like Riley as a friend, that's all"

His arms were still crossed, "So you think that bringing her around the woman you can't keep your eyes off of is a good idea? It's kind of cruel, Tal."

Maybe he was right, but I wasn't planning on flirting with Charlotte tonight. Just hanging out as one big group of fun people. "I'm not going to flirt with her tonight, do you really think that I'm that fucked up?"

His silence said what he didn't want to tell me, and I couldn't believe him. My facial expression probably gave away the shock I was feeling, so he uncrossed his arms and explained himself. "I just think that you don't have any of this planned out. Like, shit Talia... you have two gorgeous women wrapped around your finger and you aren't even going to be here much longer."