Page 24 of Best Friends

“At the gym… I saw you look up at him with this smile and I thought to myself… he digs the guy. Seems I was right.”

Benji’s lips twerked into an almost smile. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“No wonder you were up his ass the other night.” Jesse laughed. “You really wanted to be up his ass. Or, maybe you wanted him to be up yours, I don’t know which way you butter your bread.”

Benji’s face grew red again. “Stop.”

Jesse smiled. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Also, I don’t want to know how you butter your bread. Just putting that out there. It was a joke, one in poor taste.”

“Yeah.” Benji looked back down at his beer.

Jesse knew he been so preoccupied that his reaction had been sideways. He needed to make sure he didn’t ruin another friendship in a week. “Mac seemed like a nice enough guy. You two were thick as thieves the other night.”

Benji smiled and Jesse liked seeing it on his friend’s face. If Mac could put that smile there…

“Mac’s amazing.” Benji took a sip from his drink. “I get the feeling he might be interested, and then in the next second, I’m not sure.”

“If you’re interested… just give it a chance. Either he wants you or he doesn’t. No reason to drag it out and wonder.”

Benji chuckled. “That advice sounds familiar.”

“What do you mean?”

“I gave Hay the same advice last week.”

Jesse froze. “What?”

“That girl he’s pining over.”

“Who’s that?”

Benji frowned. “You’re his best friend and you don’t know? I figured you’d be the one person who had all the details.”

Jesse shook his head, a knot forming in his throat. “Who is she?”

“I’ve never been able to get him to talk about who it is… most he’s ever said is that he knows his interest would never, ever be shared. He’s tore up from it—and personally, I think that’s the reason he fucks around and drinks too much. He’s pining for some girl he sees as untouchable and it’s slowly killing him.” Benji paused to take a drink.

Jesse struggled for air. Was this some woman…

Or…

“I told Hay that he just needs to man up. Put it out there that he’s interested. If she’s not… she’s not. Move on,” Benji said. “If she is, then great. Pretty much the same advice you gave me.”

“Yeah,” Jesse murmured. I’m his best friend. If there was a woman he was after… he would’ve told me.

“Either way, he needs to get his act together. The drinking and the women… he’s got to slow down.”

Jesse nodded. “He does. I’m worried about him.”

Benji nodded before taking the last sip from his beer. “If you don’t mind, I think I might go take your advice. Maybe I’ll see if Mac wants to go have some dinner tonight.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Jesse said. “Text me and let me know how things go, eh?”

“You sure you really want to know?”

“I do,” Jesse said, holding Benji’s stare. “I really do.”

Benji smiled before sliding out of the booth. “Thanks, man.”

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