Page 14 of We Can't Be Friends

How am I coming out of this as the bad guy?

I can see her over his shoulder. Hand on a popped out hip, exasperated facial features falling into something fake. Neutral. A facade.

I put my hands up in front of my chest and step backward.

“Keep it that way.” Turning to Chloe, he kisses her cheek, and she tenses. “I’m going to the bathroom, I’ll meet you at the table.”

He enters through the front door, heading inside.

When it’s just Chloe and me, we hold a staring contest before she spins on her heels and walking down the sidewalk.

I trail behind her like a lost dog.

She halts, and I almost run into her.

Facing me, she raises a baby blue painted pointer finger, pushing it into my chest. “You don’t know me. I don’t need you to interfere in my relationship. I don’t need your help. I can handle myself, Calvin.”

“Callum,” I correct her.

“Whatever, Pretty Boy,” she says sardonically, full red painted lips pursed.

Pretty Boy.

She thinks I’m pretty.

Before I can respond, she’s opening the waist-height gate to the patio and slides onto the bench next to Emerson.

Emerson gives her a side hug.

I give it a minute. Then another before I go to the table. Her boyfriend is seated next to her. I sit on the opposite side, next to Natalie.

Pretending as if nothing happened, I introduce myself to him.

“Oi, mate.” I give him a bro-ish nod, he seems like that type—which doesn’t seem like Chloe’s type, but then again,I don’t know her. “I’m Callum Sullivan.”

“Seth. Chloe’s boyfriend. I’m in town for the weekend from Denver.” He slings an arm around her shoulders. My gaze finds Chloe and I try to see through the masks she put on.

Glancing at Emerson, sitting to Chloe’s right, she shrugs.

It’s small, but Chloe’s head tips to mine. She blinks, silently asking,don’t tell anyone.

***

Liam and Emerson are leaning in toward each other at the end of the table in a heated whisper-yell conversation.

I shift my upper body forward, resting my elbows on the table, watching them battle out years of pent-up emotions while trying to maintain some semblance of a friendship. These two are walking the thinnest and most unstable rope I’ve ever seen.

LiamknowsNatalie Thomas, Emerson’s childhood best friend, but has a history with Emerson. Up until about a month ago, neither of them knew the other’s relationship status because both of them kept secrets, and now those secrets are coming back to bite them in the ass.

And when I say history, I mean afind you in every lifetimelove story waiting to be finished. It’s why I texted Emerson that sheneeds to tell him how she feels. I can see it on them both. They love each other.

Earlier this week, Liam confessed that he begged Emerson to be his friend again. Looks like that’s going well.

This is another reason why I don’t date. The yearning. Distractions. Messy. Uncontrollable feelings.

Their little dispute is broken up when the waitress comes to take our orders.

We go around the table clockwise, starting with myself.

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