Page 98 of The Last Dance

26

Always With You

Henry

It was no accident that Brad got to that coffee shop before I did. I wanted her to experience meeting him without me with her. She’s adored him and his band for so long and she needed to have that fangirl moment and get it out of her system, so she can focus on her interview with him when it’s time. I didn’t expect to walk in to find her paralyzed in the moment but that only made it better. She was a mess, and so adorable.

Today I teach her how to use her site. I’ve never done so much prep work for a client meeting as I did today. Everything had to be perfect, just like she is.

Ben and I are now sitting at the bar up the road from my office. I couldn’t relax waiting for her, so I suggested a beer to calm my nerves and didn’t have to ask Ben twice.

‘She’s gonna break up with Noah,’ I say to Ben.

‘Well, you knew she would eventually. She’s never been the best at keeping things from people.’

‘Am I pushing all this too fast?’

‘Are you kidding me? You’ve got Claire up my ass now, expecting me to start this over-the-top shit up again and I’m not as young and full of ideas as I used to be.’ He laughs. ‘You’re makingmylife difficult.’

I roll my eyes. ‘This is coming from the same guy who used to convince me to let go and take a chance. Now you’re saying you don’t still do crazy shit like force your best friend into a hot-air balloon while you ride the Ferris wheel with your lady, so you can propose in the most over-the-top way possible?’ I laugh thinking about all the ridiculous things he’s done.

‘That was a good day,’ Ben says with a nod. ‘You’ll never top that proposal.’

‘I’m not really in any kind of proposal place yet,’ I say, sipping my beer. ‘Let’s get through this week.’ Ambri was always the one to watch from the sidelines as Ben and I did over-the-top crazy romantic things for our girlfriends. I don’t want her to be on the sidelines of my life anymore. I want her to have these experiences from me.

‘Did you just say yet? You’re not in the proposal placeyet?’

I laugh to myself. ‘I guess I did.’ I nod. I’ve never hinted at anything like a proposal with anyone. I guess all the changing I’ve done this week has changed more than I thought it did to even put a hint of that idea somewhere in my head. Or maybe it’s my heart working overtime here?

‘Today is training day, huh? Why are you so nervous?’

‘Because every time I see her the feelings I have for her get even stronger. I’ve never felt this way about my best friend since high school.’

‘I’m not gonna lie…’ Ben pretends to wipe away tears. ‘That hurts.’

‘You’re funny.’ I roll my eyes.

‘Henry?’ I turn towards the voice in time to get a fist to the eye knocking me into Ben, who keeps me standing. I regain my footing, trying to figure out what just happened, only then realizing that it’s Noah. He fucking sucker-punched me?

‘I think she may have told him,’ Ben says with a laugh, jumping in between us.

‘What thefuckwas that, Noah? You had to come at me with my back turned?’ I yell, taking a step towards him, as he takes a few steps away from me. I’m bigger than he is, not by much, but if he wants to do this…

‘Are you in love with her?’ he says, pacing the room before stopping in front of me. ‘Admit it. You’re trying to win her over.’

I look over at Ben with a shake of my head, hoping he will keep his mouth shut in this whole thing. I don’t need it worse than it is right now. The whole bar is now watching the two of us, all backed away as if we’re actually going to do the whole ‘physically fighting for her’ thing.

‘Can we talk like grown men?’ I ask, holding my hands up towards him. ‘It doesn’t need to go down like this.’

‘Just answer my question!’

I sigh, dropping my head towards the ground before finally looking back up at him. ‘Fine. Yes. I’m in love with her.’

Noah massages the hand he hit me with, his face scrunched in pain, Ben standing in front of him, his hands on his shoulders. I’m absolutely positive I’m the first guy he’s ever hit. Thanks to Ben’s mouth, this is not the first time I’ve been punched, though it’s been a while.

‘You left her! You missed your chance. Is this what you came back for? To get her back?’

‘No. I didn’t plan this.’

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