Page 94 of Fragile

I was almost too flustered to think straight but was very aware of Max’s huge body beside me; he remained silent throughout that last exchange with Leonie but I knew he was biding his time.

“OK, spit it out,” I said, spinning my stool to face him as he did the same.

His face was a picture, an in-between mix of shock and humour. “What the fuck was that?”

“What?” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. I answered to no one at the end of the day. Max included.

“I suddenly feel like I’m in the twilight zone. I mean I knew you liked her, but fuck me.”

I rubbed my hand across the scruff on my jaw as Max attempted to mimic my voice, “You move like an angel? We’ll save you a seat?”

“So?” I sniffed. I knew exactly where he was going.

“And what’s that with the dancing shit? Where’s Gabriel, the one who usually treats her like shit?” Max ground his jaw, the muscles in his neck rippling with the movement.

I rolled my shoulders and looked at him with an unapologetic stare. “He’s gone. We’re friends now. And that’s how friends talk to each other.” And I don’t give a shit if you have a problem with that, I thought to myself.

The tension between us suddenly felt like there was a grenade on the table with the pin pulled.

“Is it fuck. We’re friends and I don’t speak to you like that.”

“I don’t care, look how happy she is. And anyway, what’s your problem? I thought you liked her. You should be glad we’re getting on?” The fucker had started to affect my buzz. I turned and ordered another whisky.

“So, you admit you’re getting it on,” Max piped up, twisting my words.

“No, we’re not getting it on. Well, not anymore anyway. We’ve both agreed it’s better like this.” But not for much longer, I thought to myself. When the time was right, I would tell Leonie or maybe even show her how I felt.

“Not anymore. So, you have fucked her then?” Max barked out with incredulous eyes like I’d kept the secret of the century from him. As my eyes ran over his features, I could see he felt betrayed. I suppose he had a point; Max and I usually told each other everything. We both didn’t give a shit about ‘kiss and tell’ but things were different with Leonie. I fucking loved her for starters. Of course, no one knew that, not even the object of my affection.

And there, I had said it in my head. I did love her, massively so.

Max was blathering, clearly upset that he wasn’t in the fucking loop. “The way you were speaking to each other, I felt like I wasn’t even here.” Fuck me, the guy was more sensitive than pussy at times.

I shrugged my shoulders and powered on as my best friend acted like I’d replaced him. “To be honest, I’d forgotten you were. What can I say, the girl lights up the room. She steals everyone’s attention. Leonie is the sweetest, kindest person I’ve ever met. Just a sec.” I was way too distracted to try and reason with Max. I just wanted to be near her again, see her face.

I dragged my attention away from my friend, who was now having one of his moods. “What are you doing? It is my fucking birthday.”

I held up one finger to silence him and started to thumb in my message. “Texting Felice,” I told him.

He grunted and shoved back off his chair. “Who’s Felice when he’s at home?

“Leonie’s boss. I’m going to ask if he will let her off early, it being your birthday and all.” I said with a wink.

Max rolled his shoulders, his face like a storm cloud. “Don’t use me as an excuse, you cheeky twat.”

We shot the shit for a bit longer and I managed to sway the topic onto something Max always loved to talk about. Himself. After around twenty minutes Leonie appeared, hair down, tight jeans and come and a fuck-me top. It clung to her tits and I swear I got palpitations. I so wanted to bury my dick between them.

Me, Max, and Luca were all in a group as Dale started to rack up the pool balls ready for my challenge, of which I had no chance of winning.

“Here she is,” I said with a smile and Leonie returned it.

She smoothed her hair back and glanced around the guys with a look of greeting. “Felice said I could finish early. Since it’s your birthday,” she explained to Max. I gave him the zip-it movement with a finger over her head.

“I’ll just bet he did,” Max replied, shooting me a look of disgust. Fuck me the guy had stick up his arse. But getting old does that to a person. I’d tell him that later and see if I got away with it.

Leonie suddenly clapped her hands as the track changed to a slow Ed Sheeran one. “I love this song, Gabriel, dance with me. Please?”

I started to refuse, “I’m not really…” but Leonie wrapped her tiny hand around my bicep and pulled me with much more strength than I would have given her credit for.

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