Page 37 of Courageous Yearnings

“A girl.”

“You got a girlfriend?”

“A girl,” Alec retorted, using his hands to prove his point. “That’s a friend.”

“Look, your friend,” Lance began and hesitated. “Your friend doesn’t understand that there’s something there, and I was the one saying ‘no’ – but now I’m saying ‘yes’ and…”

“And what?”

“And it’s gonna happen.”

“Dude, it’s not gonna happen,” Alec chuckled, shaking his head. “Trust me. It’s not gonna happen. Girls are different – especially the good girls. Good girls want a ring, the whole marriage thing, and a family.”

“I’m thinking about it,” Lance muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “It freaks me out a little bit, but if I got married to anyone in the future… it might be Blythe. Maybe… if I ever got married. I mean, we’re just talking right now, you know?”

“But what we think versus what girls think are two different things.”

“But what if…” Lance began and hesitated. “I mean, are things so different with a piece of paper?”

“It’s security, a promise, a commitment… and she gets half your stuff.”

“I have nothing but a crummy apartment…”

“Truth!”

“…And some shoddy furniture.”

“Again – truth!”

“Enough, Alec.”

“We’re buddies because I give it to you straight,” Alec shrugged. “If you want my opinion, you better be ready to answer some hard questions – and sleep on the floor.”

“You really think she’ll be mad?”

“I don’t think she’s going to respond the way you think.”

“You don’t think she’s going to be happy?”

“I think she’s going to flip her lid.”

“But things are serious… or at least for me, they are,” Lance began nervously and hesitated. “I mean, I just financed eight thousand dollars’ worth of seriousness.”

“And it will look great when you have to haul it home. Maybe you can use it to mop up your tears,” Alec grinned, clapping him on the back and laughing. “Let’s finish up so you can unveil your surprise, Loverboy.”

“Mannnn, shut up and keep this between us.”

“I already texted Colton, Justin, and Chad.”

“What? I thought you were texting your girlfriend!”

“A girl… who’s a friend,” Alec reiterated firmly. “You are making it sound like there’s more, and we both know that things get weird if it’s more.”

“Does Willow know that?”

“You better worry about yourself before you worry about my friend… who’s a girl – and that’s all!”

“Alec, where’s Willow?”

---