Page 54 of Friends Who Fake It

“It didn’t seem like something that was going to fizzle out.”

“Come on, like you noticed anything about Willow and me that night. You only had eyes for Maddie. Which is no problem. It’s how it’s meant to be when you’re in love.”

“And you’re not in love?”

“What is this, a daytime talk show? No, I’m not in love.”

“Sure seemed like it.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” he said, wondering if he should trademark the phrase, given how regularly he’d started saying it.

“What happened?”

“We just broke up.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

Francesco ground his teeth, and figured a version of the truth was better than a lie. “That guy she’s with—Tom—they have a history. I guess she missed him, or whatever.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“Seriously, why does any of this matter?”

“Aren’t I allowed to worry about my brother?”

“Worry about Raf all you want. I’m fine.”

Rocco sighed heavily. “You really are dumb as shit sometimes, you know that?”

Francesco contemplated disconnecting the call.

“I mean, I was too, til I met Maddie, so I get it. Fuck, man. Sometimes you just have to take the leap, you know.”

Francesco shook his head. “It’s not the same thing.”

“Why not?”

“Because you love Maddie.”

“Yeah, I love Maddie. But I almost lost her, because it took me so long to wake up and realise it. I was stupid, and I think you’re probably being the same kind of stupid.”

Francesco shook his head. “It’s different.”

“Is it? How?”

“Can we not talk about this?”

“If it’s no big deal, why’s it a problem to talk about?”

“You’re really pissing me off, now.”

“I think you’re messing up your life.”

“Just as well it’s my life to mess up, then. Why don’t you call Raf? He’s the one who could do with your amateur psychology services, not me.”

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