Page 40 of Best Friends
She shakes her head. “I’m ready to head home, are you?”
“Yeah.” I follow her through the crowd, feeling like dog shit. She’s such a good friend and I’m making her feel like I don’t trust her.
When we get in her SUV, before she can start the engine, I touch her arm. “Wait,” I say softly.
She hesitates and glances at me, her gaze questioning.
“Malcolm and I… we…” My throat closes and I cough.
“You what?” she asks, squinting at me.
The inside of the car is warm and stifling from sitting in the sun all day. The scent of leather and faded perfume permeate the air. The sun beats down on my shoulder through the window as I meet her puzzled gaze.
“Are you guys still fighting?” she asks apprehensively.
“No,” I say hoarsely. “It’s the complete opposite.”
Her confusion remains as she blinks at me. “I don’t understand.”
I look to the ceiling of the car and say, “Things are sexual between us now.”
She lets out a surprised gasp, and when I get the courage to meet her gaze, there’s obvious shock. “You and Malcolm?”
I nod, anxiety gnawing at me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking. She has too good of a poker face. She’s obviously surprised, but I have no clue what her feelings are on the matter. Is she repulsed?
“When did this start?” she asks. “Was it at the fishing convention?”
Surprised she guessed, I glance at her sharply.
She smiles. “I’m not psychic. That’s when you started acting weird with each other. It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together.”
“I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed?” she echoes. “Why?”
I huff. “You know why. Because of assholes like Harlan and Jeremy for starters. I don’t want to become the subject of gossip for everyone at work or in town. My… my love life is my private business.”
“I agree. But even if that’s true, people are always going to talk, Carrick. That’s just a fact. That doesn’t mean you should hide who you are.”
“Well, I’m not ready to tell people.” I meet her gaze. “You’re the first person I’ve told.”
“I’m flattered you trusted me.” She shifts her body toward me. “I mean that. I won’t say a word to anyone else. I promise.”
I grimace. “I know that, Chey. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. I just wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me being bisexual.”
Her smile is sad. “I’d hope you know exactly how I’d react. I’d never judge you. My youngest sister is gay.”
I lift my brows. “Is she?”
“Yep.” She smiles. “See how good I am at keeping a secret?”
I laugh. “I guess you are. Wow.”
“She’s had her struggles. But she’d never hide who she is.” She studies me. “How does Malcolm feel about all the secrecy?” Her tone implies she knows exactly how he feels.
“He doesn’t like it.”
“No, I don’t imagine he would,” she murmurs. “So this is why you’ve been acting so strange. I’m actually relieved. I was beginning to worry maybe you had a secret drug problem or something.”
