Lacey finds Paul the next morning

The next morning, Lacey walked briskly across campus, the chill of the early autumn air nipping at her cheeks. She was on her way to meet Paul at one of the lecture halls, where he had apparently crashed the night before. She passed by a Starbucks, the aroma of beans wafting out, and paused. After a quick glance at her watch, she decided she could spare a few minutes. She emerged with two lattes in hand a few minutes later and ready to make amends.

Paul was sitting on the steps outside the building, scrolling through his phone. He looked up as she approached. "Hey," he said, standing up and stretching.

"Sorry again for all the drama last night," Lacey said, handing him a cup. She hoped her blush was from the chill. "I should have told you about Maeve.”

Paul took a sip and raised an eyebrow. "Why didn’t you?"

Lacey sighed. She ran a hand through her hair. "I just didn’t want to get into it. Maeve can be really jealous, and I can’t stand all the drama." She met his eyes. "It’s not because I’m into you or anything like that." There was a brief moment of silence between them. Lacey waited for him to respond, shifting her weight, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Paul burst out laughing a second later. "It’s hot, I guess. The jealous girlfriend thing."

Lacey rolled her eyes. "You think jealousy is hot?"

“Sometimes. It’s part of like, every porno.”

"Yeah, well, it’s a headache," Lacey said. "I just want to keep things easy between us. You and me, and me and her. I mean, she’s great, but you know how it is."

Paul nodded. "I get it. I support you, or whatever you’re supposed to say. Love is love. You’re valid. I don’t know."

"Thanks," Lacey said.

They started walking toward the lecture hall, the conversation flowing more easily now. Lacey felt a weight lift off her shoulders, relieved that they could still maintain their friendship despite the awkwardness.

As they walked back toward her apartment, Paul had a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, does Maeve know about our late-night bonding session?" he asked.

"Definitely not," Lacey replied quickly, shaking her head. "I’m not about to add fuel to that fire."