I slammed the phone down, face red with embarassment and anger.

“What?” Max asked nervously. “What did she say?”

“That she’s your soulmate and I need to back off, because you’re her property and I’m a man-stealer,” I said. “You’re girlfriend needs to go, Max.”

Max had been frowning. He knew I didn’t deal with confrontation well, and after all of that…Ugh.

“She’s not my girlfriend. And I’ll set her straight,” he promised.

I nodded. “Ok, let’s watch the movie. I do not need to deal with anyone else today. People…” I trailed off, heading out to living room.

Then the phone rang again and I snatched it up.

“You know what, Monica? I don’t need to deal with you right now. Max is not your boyfriend, and for the record, I don’t even like him like that! Can’t you get it through your thick, pompom waving skull that boys and girls can be friends?”

It was the most I’d said to a single person other than Max in months and I was proud of myself.

“Um…Hi Jo. It’s not Monica. It’s Jake.”