Page 141 of We Can't Be Friends

I get nervous. Hearing ‘we need to talk’ is never warm and fuzzy no matter if it’s from your girlfriend or not. I’m out of fingers to count on how many times those words, or iterations of them, have been said to me.

“What did I do?” Is my response every. Single. Time. I sift through what I could possibly have done.

“Nothing.” Liam shakes his head as if there’s no reason for me to even be questioning this. “Are you coming back to London? Our deal was through the end of the year. It’s January.”

I swallow nervously.

This has been coming. I knew he’d eventually ask, I couldn’t avoid it.

Prior to the opening in September, Liam and I agreed that I would stay here as he had other business to tend to in London. However, we also agreed that I’d be back at the start of the year and we’d sell our place here.

Then I go and agree to Chloe living with me.

I try to keep her out of this conversation, but she’s the center of it. She’s the reason I’m still here.

Returning to London feels as if I’m letting her down. But is staying letting Liam and the business down? I don’t know which one outweighs the other.

Which poison is worse?

“I—”

“You want to stay,” he says for me. “You want to stay for Chloe.”

Involuntarily my head nods slowly. My brain and heart working in tandem before I have the option to try to control my response. Finally aligned and reality is hitting me. I’m not ready to accept it or admit it.

“You met with a realtor while you were back.” How does he know that?

Liam stands up to close the glass door. All offices and conference rooms are sound proof, not that any employee would dare to eavesdrop on us. Liam closed the door to change the dynamic.

This isn’t a conversation between a CEO and his CFO. This is a conversation between best mates that have a friendship that stretches over a decade.

He sits down, hands brushing over the tops of his thighs as he crosses his legs, resting his right ankle on his left thigh. Relaxed. Poised. Comforting. Open ears.

“I need you to be truthful with me.”

“How did you find out?” I ask.

“I have my ways. Tell me do you want to stay for Chloe?”

“Yes.”

***

I’m lying on the couch, when Chloe walks in through the door. She shuts the door quietly, tiptoeing through the kitchen to the stairs. She jolts back when she spots me in the dim lamp light.

“Oh. I didn’t think you’d be up.” She wanders in front of the couch, sitting on the arm. “Did I wake you?”

“No.” I shake my book, finger holding my page.

“I read that last week,” she says with an all knowing smile.

“I know.” Reaching for my lukewarm tea, I take a sip. “Are you going to bed?”

“Going to change, but thought about watching TV. Wanna join?”

My heartbeat thunders in my ears, spelling out yes.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to,”—Chloe tugs on her bottom lip, softening—”I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

---