Page 37 of Friendzone Hockey
Though, Dirk’s been increasingly active with the restaurant. Even when Dad returned from his usual summer getaway last summer, Dirk continued on with a bunch of manager-type stuff to help out and make some extra cash. Dad gave him his first job when we were kids, and they got close when they were looking for me. Their bond kinda stuck. They’ve always had a friendship outside of me.
It’s a pub-style restaurant, so I don’t have to dress too fancy for my manager shift. I wear jeans and some plaid like Dad does. Dirk adjusts the lapels of my collar and then reaches for the black kitchen hat in the cubby above my head.
“You’re chewing on something. If you don’t tell me what it is soon, I’m ratting you out to Stacey,” he says in casual tones.
Those three—Stacey, Dirk, and Dad. They made an unspoken pack ages ago and they look out for me as a unit, none of them over the Robin era, even though I am. Mostly.
“Stacey’s the reason. You don’t have to go running to him. I’m fine, Dirk.”
He slips into the black cotton chef’s jacket, analyzing me. “And you’re not gonna tell me?”
We tell each other everything. Everything. Even if we didn’t, he knows me better than I know myself. He knew about the first time I had a crush on Stacey … and then the second time. He knew when I finally—fucking finally—gave up on the stupid Stacey obsession I had.
God. What a fucking lost puppy I was. So damn pathetic. I get obsessed over a type. Like the time I was in lust with Dirk’s brother Hunter. There are a lot of similarities between Stacey and Hunter.
But there’s only one Stacey Alderchuck.
“Stacey, um, Stacey told me something the other day and it kinda…” turned my world on its fucking axis.
“Kinda what?”
“He told me he wishes he were the one marrying me.” Dirk’s jaw drops. “I know, right? So fucking ridiculous.”
“I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him.”
“Why?”
Dirk means it, too. His eyes narrow and his muscles flex. “Who the fuck tells one of their best friends shit like that right before they’re about to get married? That’s fucked up.”
I don’t know if it is or not. I know that I’m glad I know, even if it’s making me feel like a squirrel on too much caffeine. My heart hasn’t slowed since he told me, and I haven’t slept right. Usually, when I’m like this, I climb into bed with him. Something I can’t do with Tweedle-whore and Tweedle-slut around.
“I asked him to be my best man. That’s shit, Dirk, and you know it. I wouldn’t have done that had I known.”
He winces. “I mean, we’re all in your wedding party anyway, does it matter which role we have?”
“It matters, Dirk. No one thought to tell me that it was going to rip him apart?”
In all honesty, I didn’t know where Stacey and I stood on the romantic side of our relationship circus. I did my best not to know, not to think about it. I talked myself out of every potential sign that could mean more. Chalked anything that felt like “more-than-friends” up to “our special friendship”. What else was I supposed to do? Stacey made it fucking clear that no matter what we felt he wasn’t going there with us.
It was survival.
For all I knew, he’d finally succeeded in letting that go, too.
Dirk exhales a breath, thinking. He knows I’m right. While it’s not fair that I’m a fucking villain now for something that I didn’t know, I’m still the fucking villain.
“Okay, I’m convinced. The truth complicates things, but that doesn’t mean it can be ignored. Now what? You calling off the wedding?”
“No,” I shrill, covering my own mouth. “No,” I repeat as a whisper yell. “What the fuck do I do, Dirk? Please give me some real advice.”
I’d ask Dad if he were here, but I’m not phoning him on his vacation. It’s his special alone time. He’ll be back in a few days and this problem will still be here then. But if Stacey thinks I’m getting on board with this … with his what? New boyfriends? Personal sex toys? Whatever they are, hell will freeze over faster than me accepting them into his life.
“You look like you just drank sour milk, Dash.”
That’s what thinking about those two does to me.Ugh.Their hands on him.Ugh.Their penises on him. “Help. I need help.”
“Can you stay with Syd for a few days? The distance could help you wrap your head around it.”
“Syd’s away, remember?” No way am I staying anywhere alone. Casey and I are the same that way. Syd’s a lawyer, but he’s also an investor. He likes to travel the world and find houses and even apartment buildings to buy and rent out. He wanted me to come with him, but I didn’t want to go.
