The Fix Up by Kendall Ryan

massaging pedicure chair, wedged between my two besties and utterly confused as to what we’re talking about.
    Before Olivia waddled in, I filled Anna in on what exactly hanging out with Sterling had entailed. Well, not everything . She can’t ever know that I dry-humped his leg at his front door like a dog in heat. Hot shame rushes through me. So unprofessional. But she does know we kissed.
    “For a girl with a business degree and a successful career, you can be really freaking stupid sometimes,” Anna says.
    “What in the world is she talking about?” Olivia asks, looking perplexed.
    “Not a clue.” I submerge my feet into peppermint-scented water that’s the perfect temperature—one level below scalding . Ahh. Releasing a satisfied sigh, I close my eyes.
    “Now, tell me what this nonsense is about.”
    “Camryn and Sterling hung out last night. At his place,” Anna says.
    “Hung out?” Olivia asks, her hand absently stroking her belly.
    Anna shrugs. “That’s what the kids are calling it these days.”
    “I don’t understand,” Olivia says. “How’s the search coming? Are you finding any good candidates for him to date?”
    “Yeah, Camryn, are you?” Anna smiles like she knows all of my secrets.
    Fuck . Maybe she does. Maybe she can see straight through me, feel the desire I have for him.
    I clear my throat, hoping to sound professional. “Yes, actually. There are a few who look promising so far.”
    “That’s great. Charles Quinn is paying a small fortune for our services, so I don’t want to let him down. And of course, Sterling. As crazy as this situation is, he deserves to get that inheritance.”
    I nod solemnly. She’s absolutely right.
    “Since you have some great candidates all lined up, I take it he’ll be going on dates soon?” Anna asks, probing.
    “Absolutely.”
    I grit my teeth. What the hell is with Anna? She’s the one who encouraged me to go out with Sterling in the first place, and now she’s acting like I’ve done something wrong?
    “That’s good to hear.” Olivia rises from her chair, slipping her swollen feet into the pink foam sandals. “I have to pee again ,” she says with a groan.
    Once Olivia’s out of earshot, Anna turns to face me. “What’s going on with you and Sterling?” she hisses. “The truth.”
    “What do you mean? I told you already. We hung out. It was . . . nice. And we might have kissed at the end.” I can’t look her in the eye as I say that last part. She’s right. I am stupid.
    Anna rolls her eyes. “Listen, I was all for hooking up with the hottie British walking aphrodisiac, but that was before I realized that you actually liked him.” Anna lets out a heavy sigh. “If you fall for him, if real feelings get involved, and let’s face it, they will, because I know you, Cam,” she says, giving me a side-eyed look, “it’s not going to end well. It can’t.”
    “It’s fine, Anna. I’m fine.”
    “You’re a smart girl, and I love you. But don’t be stupid enough to get involved with him. You said so yourself; he’s a manwhore.”
    I inhale and hold my tongue as Olivia waddles back from the bathroom.
    My mood has turned, and what was supposed to be a fun girls’ night out has turned into a counseling session. I don’t even want to be here anymore. If I could pull my feet out of this tub and march out of here right now, I would.
    But the thing is, Anna’s right. And she’s only trying to protect me. So instead of making a dramatic exit, I bite my tongue and try to enjoy myself as the pedicurist rubs warm oil onto my feet. Which, honestly, isn’t difficult to do.
    My monthly pedicure outing with my girlfriends is one of my favorite days. This is my happy place. Perched on our thrones, we transition to safer topics like baby names and bucket list items, and who’s banging whom at the office.
    I watch as my toes are painted cherry red, my earlier discomfort slipping away.
    “Noah and I are wanting to try that fancy