Page 18 of Best Friends

“Stop trying to fix things,” Hayden snapped. “That’s what you do. You push too hard, trying to make things right—look how it backfired last night. I’m not broken, so just leave me alone.”

“Sorry I give a shit.”

Hayden took one last drink from the cup and placed it on the table. “Yeah, maybe I’m sorry, too.” He rose to his feet and walked toward the living room. “Where are my keys?”

Jesse went to his bedroom, where he’d stashed Hayden’s keys. He came back out seconds later and offered them up. Hayden walked closer, met Jesse’s stare, and took the keys from his hand.

Then he just stood there, staring.

Hayden didn’t speak.

Jesse held the stare for a moment, not sure what this was between them.

Finally, Hayden backed off and headed for the front door.

Jesse sauntered closer to the front door and watched through the sheers as Hayden backed out of his drive.

Maybe Adam and Clay were right. Maybe friends outgrew one another at some point.

The thought of losing Hayden felt like a physical blow to the gut.

After pouring out the rest of the coffee, he dove back into bed and eventually fell back to sleep.

---