: 3
3.
Me: ??????
"Yeah, Willa, you're being so immoral."
"I don't think anything's going on between Cole and Lianne. They've been close since they were kids, so even a hug is no big deal. Women should be more magnanimous."
...
'I was wrong. I'd underestimated the human standard for moral baselines.'
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.
And I have Lianne Sherwood to thank for showing up early and letting me see these people for who they really are before Cole Langdon and I got married.
I noticed someone was missing from the group chat. A quick scan of the member list confirmed it: Drew Orion had left.
'Leaving without cursing them out was probably the last shred of dignity Drew Orion was willing to afford them.'
Me: "Alright, thank you all for the lesson. In closing, I wish everyone here this: May your skies be ever-green, your path be ever-green, and your lives be ever-green! We'll never meet again!"
I didn't argue any further. I just left the group.
There's another saying: never argue with an idiot.
Cole Langdon and I met during my freshman year.
He was an upperclassman helping the new students with their luggage.
I hadn't wanted him to help me at first. He was tall and skinny, and kind of handsome. It wouldn't be good if he hurt himself.
But he insisted on helping. In the end, not only did he fail to lift the suitcase, he even threw out his back.
In the end, I was the one who carried the luggage in one hand and practically carried him in the other, all the way back to his dorm.
Back then, even though he wasn't very bright and was physically weak, he at least had a warm heart and was eager to help.
A far cry from now, when all that's left is disgust.
I opened my ChatLink with Drew Orion and sent him a thank you message.
Drew Orion: "No need to thank me. I think any normal person would have done the same."
Me: "I think you're right!"
I was a little curious. "How did you end up being friends with them in the first place? You don't seem like you're from the same world at all."
Drew Orion didn't answer me. Instead, he asked, "Why did you agree to date him in the first place?"
I thought about it. "Probably because his impression of a dog barking was really good."
Drew Orion: "..."
Cole Langdon chased me for a whole year. It was getting a little annoying, so I told him I like 'puppy boyfriends,' not 'old dogs.'
He tugged on my clothes, went WOOF WOOF a few times, and this man, two years older than me, whined and called me 'Sister.'
Honestly, I couldn't quite describe the feeling at that moment. My heart fluttered a bit.
Yeah, that's probably what it was.
My family is full of roughnecks, every one of them a male chauvinist, so I've always preferred obedient, well-behaved 'little brothers.'
Even though Cole Langdon wasn't younger than me, he had the advantage of being good-looking and obedient.
Looking back now, there really is a huge difference between a 'puppy boyfriend' and an 'old dog.'
Drew Orion: "You like puppies?"
Before I could reply, Drew Orion sent a photo.
It was a small, adorable Yorkshire Terrier.
"So cute! Is that your dog?"
'I would've thought that if Drew Orion had a pet, it would be a cat. And if he had a dog, it would be a big, steady breed like an Alaskan Malamute or a Golden Retriever.'
'I never expected him to have such a cute little dog.'
Drew Orion: "Yeah. She's three years old, her name is Tangerine, and she's a girl."
"Can I hold her?" 'She was so small and delicate, I was completely smitten.'
Drew Orion: "You can, but she's shy around strangers and gets scared in new environments. You could come to my place to hold her."
"Send me the address."
Drew Orion quickly sent a location pin and a detailed address.
Without a second thought, I drove to the store and bought some little toys and snacks for Little Tangerine.
Thank goodness the pet store closed late, or I would've had to show up empty-handed to meet the adorable Little Tangerine.
Drew Orion was clearly surprised when he opened the door and saw me standing outside.
He probably didn't expect me to be so quick to act, showing up right after I said I would.
"Is all this for Tangerine?"
He took the two large bags from my hands and carried them inside.
"Mhm, it's all for Little Tangerine."
I felt a little sad watching Little Tangerine bark at me, too scared to come any closer.
"Then what about me?" Drew Orion asked.
