“What do you mean you think you’re in love?” I’m finally seeing Maya for the first time since the day after Laurie’s wedding and she’s making my head explode. I search her beautiful tired face for clues—is she joking? Is she high? Was she kidnapped by Sam Fletcher and now experiencing Stockholm Syndrome? “You just met him. He’s not your type. He’s Braddock’s best friend.” I wish I hadn’t said that last part out loud, but it’s too late.

Maya’s face erupts in an amazing, sleepy, genuinely happy smile. “I love him, Erin. He’s wonderful and he’s so good to me and I love being with him and I’ve never felt this way before.” She looks me straight in the eyes. “I love him.” She means it. I have never seen her this calm and satisfied before. It definitely isn’t just a blissed-out fuck-haze either, she looks and sounds like a woman in love.

I put my hands on hers. “Then I’m happy for you.”

She kisses me on the cheek. “We watched Cinema Paradiso. I loved it. I cried.”

“Okay. I wanted to watch it with you, but whatever. I’m glad. So are you just here to pack a bag, or…”

“Yes. I have to do laundry.”

“Oh.”

She starts going through her hamper. “He has such a great space. It’s a live-work loft. You have to come hang with us. He’s in the Arts District downtown. It’s so vibrant. You’d love it. His music is incredible. He’s so talented.”

I nod. “I’m going to write a script with Braddock.”

She drops what she’s doing and scurries back over to me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “What?! Tell me everything.” This is news to her. I was half-expecting her to already know this, and about my brief interlude in the bathroom at the wedding, but apparently she and Sam have been too busy falling in love and Braddock has been too busy not caring enough to communicate with his best friend about me.

“There’s nothing to tell. It’s work. It’s a career choice. Our agents strongly recommended it. He had a really good idea for a horror movie with a relationship angle. It could end up being a good thing for me. Career-wise.”

“Wow. You’re saying all this while your body language is expressing total defeat. This is great! I’m so excited for you! We should all hang out—let’s have dinner this week.”

“No.”

“Oh come on.”

“No way.”

“It won’t be a double date.”

“It won’t be anything, it’s not happening.”

“Fine.” She goes back to her laundry. “For now. I’ve got a good feeling about this, my love. This is the start of something great for you.”

“Oh calm down. Are you still going to be my plus-one for my friend’s wedding?”

“Yes! Oh right! Sam’s going to that too! With Scott!”

“Right. Of course.”

“Oh my God it’ll be so fun! We should all drive up together!”

“Nope.”

“Maybe. Think about it. For the sake of the environment.”

“Nope. For the sake of my mental and emotional environment, nope. But you’re going to stay in my room, right?” I know the answer to this, but I say it anyway.

“I mean. Ostensibly. Sure. We’ll see what happens. You might not want me to…” She winks at me.

“Just stop…I mean, he’s probably dating someone.”

“Ah hah! You do care.”

“I don’t care, I’m just saying…has Sam said anything?”

Maya smiles. “He mentioned that there was a pilates instructor that Scott was seeing for a while, but he got bored and ended it.”

“He got bored? That’s so obnoxious.”

“And before that he was seeing a musician who plays guitar in one of the bands that Sam produces for.”

I’m starting to feel my skin get hot and prickly. “Let me guess. He got bored of her too?”

“Guess so.”

“Gross. He’s so gross.”

“Keep telling yourself that, baby doll.”

I hate change. Almost as much as I hate being in a rut. But things are changing too fast. This feels like the end of summer right before starting high school. I’m even getting a zit on my chin.

Shit shit shit.