Page 76 of The Friendly Fall

I mull that thought over, taking a sip of my hot cocoa. As much as that would save my heart, it’s also theeasyway out. And after everything Nick has done for me, he deserves my best; even if he doesn’t feel the same about me anymore.

Love is giving and not asking for anything in return.

My eyes flicker up to the TV, but I can’t focus on what’s on the screen. My phone is still playing some silly video of a woman building her husband a new workbench, and I smile to myself.

I might be doing the craziest thing for a man that doesn’t owe me anything at all…

But it feelsright.

And that’s how I know I’m making the right decision.

Love is worth trying for.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nick

“What’s your deal, man?” Daniel’s voice grabs my attention.

I set the new box of nails onto the shelf and turn to face him, shrugging. “Nothing.”

“Dude, you’ve been MIA now for two weeks, and I know there’s something up. I know you.” Daniel’s tone is telling, and he’s right. Ihavebeen distant from everyone.

“Just busy,” I lie, knowing that it’s pointless to do that to my best friend.

And the point is made when he rolls his eyes at me. “Come on, I know it has to do with Eliza. Vanessa says that the two of you aren’t even really talking. What’s up with that? Was it the fake Thanksgiving thing?”

I nearly drop the second box of nails from the cart. “How the heck do you know about that?”

“Uh, my wife is besties with Eliza these days. I guess she broke the news to her after the fact. Women are like that—everything is a secret except with each other. Who knows what they talk about. She’s usually pretty tightlipped about it all, but she’s thinking it’s time for me to intervene.”

Oh boy.

“Look, it’s not that we’re not friends or whatever,” I say quickly, feeling the need to come to my own defense. “I just needed some space after all that. Because, well … youknowhow I feel about her.”

Daniel’s upper lip twitches into a smile. “So you still got the hots for her then?”

“You sound like a twelve-year-old,” I mutter, shaking my head. “But yeah, I still care about her. I’m trying to get over that, which is why I need space. It’s too hard for me to be around her all the time after that façade. I always read too far into things.”

“That’s usually what women do.” He bursts into laughter, his head tipping back as he fills the empty store with the sound.

“Shut up,” I snap, not finding any humor at the moment. “I just want to be able to go back to being her friend—or whatever.”

“Why?”

“Because, it’s not fair to her for us not to be friends just because I can’t keep my feelings under wraps.”

“I think that’s stupid.”

“Well, you’re full of opinions today,” I grumble, continuing to stack the boxes. “Did you come here just to tell me that?”

“No, not at all.” He chuckles. “I came here to invite you to the party we’re throwing this weekend for the twins. I can’t believe they’re about to be two years old. Time flies, man.”

“Yeah,” I say, ignoring that familiar feeling of jealousy. “I’ll be there.”

“Is it okay if we invite Eliza, too?”

I pause, shaking my head. “That’s crazy you even have to ask. Why wouldn’t it be okay? I didn’t say we hated each other or something.”

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