Page 177 of Trading Paint

Tommy glanced down at the overly large ball of fluff at his feet and then back at me with a wary expression. “Are you sure that’s a cat.”

“What else would he be?A shark?”

“Or a cow,” Tommy balked. “I mean, Jesus Christ Sway, he’s fucking huge. Did he have a twin or something and eat it?”

“That’s enough firecrotch. You don’t see him making fun of yourorangehair.”

That effectively ended our argument. He was sensitive about his orange hair. When we were young, he once tried to die it brown only to have it fall out and if possible, was an even brighter shade of orange now.

I spent a good twenty minutes on the toilet texting Jameson. It was the only peaceful room I had without Tommy.

Are you okay?

It was around one in the morning, I hoped he had made it from the track by now and was on his way home.

It took him a few minutes but he responded.

Yeah, I’m fine.Just frustrated.

I know. Sorry.

Don’t apologize.

Call me tomorrow.

I have shit to do all day. I’ll call you sometime after seven, my time.

Sleep well.I wasn’t sure what else to say. I didn’t want to go emotional on him through texting.

He never responded so I set my phone down on my nightstand while I brushed my teeth.

Just as I was getting into bed, Tommy yelled for me to come out into the living room. Thinking he was going to complain about Mr. Jangles, I took my sweet ass time.

When I eventually walked back into the living room, I realized this time he wasn’t fucking with me, his concerned expression told me he wasn’t done with ourpreviousconversation, before he bashed Mr. Jangles non-existent metabolism.

Throwing myself into the chair beside the couch, I sighed. “What?”

“We’re friends, right?”

“Yeah,”

“So are you and Jameson.”

“Yeah?”

I wasn’t following this conversation real well but it might have had something to do with it being three in the morning.

“Meand you don’t kiss, we don’t touch, and we don’t spend the night texting each other like teenager girls but...you and him do. That right there should tell you the answer to your question.”

Did I mean more to him than just his best friend?

I couldn’t sleep after that so I justlaidin my bed, willing myself to sleep, it didn’t work.

My phone buzzed causing me to jump, my head smacked against my headboard. Glancing down, I noticed Jameson had responded to my text message.

You too honey. Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks for being there for me.

Did he feel more than friend status?

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