Page 198 of We Can't Be Friends

“Alright, fact checker. What’s the matter? You have been a grump all day, and I don’t like it.”

“It’s nothing, Henry.”

“But—”

“Drop it.” He grips my waist, the touch careful, moving me off him. “I’m getting another drink.”

I scoot out from behind the table, following him but Cal heads to the bathroom.

The DJ announces the next performer, “George Eaton, everybody!”

I join everyone gathered in the center of the floor in front of the raised stage. I give Cal one more glance over my shoulder now that he’s at the bar, confused and worried. Not wanting to ruin the rest of the day or weekend for Liam and Emerson, I let all that simmer and float to the back of my mind.

George’s back is to the crowd, and the sound of piano keys begins to fill the space.

Beatrix’s head falls to her hands.

Emerson waltzes to the front of the stage, arms outstretched towards the stage, belting the lyrics to “Pink Pony Club” alongside George.

He works the stage and crowd. At one point lying on the stage, pretending to play air guitar. Rolling over, he props his head up for the bridge.

“I can’t believe he can hit these notes,” Audrey says loudly.

“You should hear him singing lullabies,” Beatrix laughs. “I am tone deaf compared to this.”

George closes out the first of his four performances with an air kiss to his wife.

“This next song goes out to my best mates.” Complete with a choreographed dance, George performs “Steal My Girl”.

I turn to Liam. “You two lied. You said you didn’t have a song-thing like Emerson and I.” I push a finger into his chest. “And OneDirection too?”

George replaces the word girl with boy, singing his heart out.

I don’t recognize the third song, but the fourth, and final thank goodness, is a duet with Emerson. They sing “Closer” by The Chainsmokers.

“Shoulda sang “Summertime Friends.”” I cup my hands to yell at them.

“More like all-time friends now, huh,” Liam says next to me.

He’s watching Emerson, how he always looks at her: like she didn’t just hang the moon, but is the sun he revolves around.

He’s already found her in one lifetime and then another. I know that the two of them would find each other in every life. Liam’s not letting her go.

I take a deep breath. “Thank you for loving my best friend how everyone is supposed to be loved.”

“I couldn’t love her any other way.” Liam snakes an arm around me. “I’m not sure what’s up with Cal, but he loves you the same way.”

Swallowing around the rock of worry that maybe he doesn’t, that perhaps this is the start to the end somehow, I respond, “Yeah, I know.”

Over my shoulder, I catch Cal watching me. Our eyes hold. His ocean eyes are murky and I can see him wading in whatever is happening, fighting to maintain control.

But he’s slipping.

***

“Liam gave you his credit card?” My eyes peel away from the clothing rack to Emerson. “Said buy whatever for the both of us?”

She’s trying on sunglasses. “What’s his is mine, and what’s mine is mine.”

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