She’s the best And she welcomes me with a huge hug the minute she opens the door I can’t believe it she says You look grown-up in your FriendBook photos but in real life You’re amazing I laugh Thanks I say Then she steps aside to hug my mom and while they’re shrieking and cooing over each other I glance through the open door and gasp One of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen in my life is standing there He’s not as cute as Rory but he’s muscular and tall and strong Eric I say Monica he says Whoa You look you look really different
I laugh Um thanks I say I think Yeah he says You look great You do too I say smiling When did you get so pretty he asks When did you get tall I counter Last week he jokes grinning Just happened all of a sudden It was kind of embarrassing because I was in public at the time but Oh quit your flirting and give me a hug my mom tells him Monica has a boyfriend I feel my face getting hot and a definite look of disappointment crosses Eric’s face For real he says When I nod he winks and adds Maybe you HAD a boyfriend
No I say I’m pretty sure I do and will continue to have a boyfriend I just baked blueberry muffins Viv says changing the subject I love blueberry muffins I exclaim And yours are the best I know Viv says smiling That’s why I made them Mom goes into the kitchen with Viv Right away they start gossiping about people they went to school with Eric helps me carry our bags into the guest room In fact he’s super sweet a huge change from six years ago He doesn’t insult me or try to trip me or brush off imaginary germs when I walk by him He
opens doors instead Weird Forget the stupid muffins he says once we’re alone Let’s go get pizza at Papa Pete’s Eric puts his arm around my shoulders My friends hang out there on Fridays and I can’t wait to introduce you to them You’ll love them It’s a really great group I’m so flustered that I freeze I can’t tell if Eric is flirting or just being nice It feels like flirting but he knows I have a boyfriend Either way I don’t want to be hugged I twist out from under his arm and smile That sounds really fun but I love blueberry muffins I say And I remember your mom’s being the best Plus I had pizza last night Your loss Eric says shrugging Then
