“You have to promise not to get offended or mad or anything like that because I’m just trying to help.” It was the innocent, I’m helpful and sweet look that made it clear she was up to something ridiculous.

“No.” Shaking my head, I knew better than to agree to anything when Melissa started a sentence like that. Of course, I was stubborn and it’d taken me a few times to learn that particular lesson. “I’m not that naïve any longer.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Shaking her head, she looked like she knew she was right and I should just follow along. “This is going to change dating for you. I know it.”

Oh, that made it sound even worse.

Dating was…difficult.

“No.” I was hoping if I kept repeating that answer it would sink in eventually. Unfortunately, we’d known each other so long she said I was family now and that seemed to mean boundaries weren’t a thing anymore.

Trying to turn the conversation, I gestured toward the display case in the bakery where they were showing off all their goodies to perfection. “Have you decided what to get for dessert?”

It almost worked.

She was a pastry whore but it seemed like we’d reached the point where ruining my day was more fun than picking out junk food.

I wasn’t sure how we’d reached this crossroad so quickly in life but I had a feeling it was due to my last dramatic breakup. Mario screaming at me in the middle of an expensive Italian restaurant that he was going to do something drastic if I didn’t fuck him hadn’t been exactly subtle.

I wasn’t sure what he’d missed when I’d explained what being asexual meant to me, but clearly there’d been a miscommunication somewhere because I wasn’t going to do that.

Ever.