Page 25 of Best Friends

Jesse stood up and placed a few bills on the table before they both headed out.

Once Jesse was in behind the wheel of his car, he sat there, his mind reeling.

His mind went back over the conversation he’d just had with Benji before turning on the car and throwing it into drive.When he reached Hayden’s house thirty minutes later, he stood in front of the door, his heart beating madly in his chest.

Swallowing back the fear, he knocked.

Jesse’s feet were ready to run. To race in the other direction. A lot of years hung between them, a friendship he’d held close on the line. But even that wasn’t the same anymore.

They were being torn apart by this thing between them.

Either he lost a friend…

Or gained a lover.

A frown came to his face when the door didn’t open. Hay’s car was outside, so Jesse was fairly certain the guy was home. He pounded on the door once more. Moving closer to the door, he didn’t hear a sound inside.

His heartbeat still echoed in his ears.

Fishing his phone from his pocket, he quickly made a call. Straight to voice mail. Where is he?

Jesse rested his forehead on the wooden door. Disappointment flooded his veins. One more missed chance…

Was this the universe giving him a sign?

Were they all out of chances?

He felt his phone vibrating in his hand. Clay. He answered the call, turning to rest his back on Hayden’s door.

“What’s up?” he asked, trying to ensure his tone was even.

“I have a message for you,” Clay said. “From Hayden.”

Jesse’s throat tightened.

“He’ll be gone for a couple of weeks.”

Gone? No goodbye? Why didn’t he tell me he was leaving? Jesse closed his eyes. He knew why. They were broken. He’d already lost his best friend.

“Where?” Jesse asked, his voice low.

“He just needed to get away for a while. To get his head on straight,” Clay said.

“Where, Clay?”

“Where doesn’t matter,” Clay answered. “Just… give him a minute to breathe. He’ll be in better shape when he gets home.”

“I’m his best friend,” Jesse said. He felt a stabbing pain in his chest… knowing that was no longer true. “He should’ve… he should’ve come to me.”

Clay was silent on the other end. “Well… he came to me. And I delivered the message, as promised.”

Jesse felt like his world was spiraling out of control.

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