Page 134 of Love Undiscovered
“You know,” I say. “You can’t tell me not to hurt her, and at the same time not to be honest with her.”
He pauses with the beer bottle halfway to his mouth, as though considering what I’m saying. “Fair point,” he says after a long pause.
“I mean, you can’t say you haven’t told Kat things you did that still hurt her when you were being honest?”
He nods and takes a long pull on his beer.
“Well, then,” I say.
“I’m not saying you should’ve lied, dude.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying… fuck I don’t know what I’m saying. All I know is my girl’s best friend is upset and I shouldn’t be kicked out of my house when I’m about… when it’s date night. And all because you fucked up.”
“Also a fair point,” I say after taking a moment to consider what he’s saying. Pretty sure I’d feel the same way in his shoes.
He laughs, a bit sardonically, then raises his bottle toward me.
I keep talking. “I’m out of my element here, man. I’m not a relationship guy.”
“All the more reason why you shouldn’t have started this,” Matthews says.
“Well, I did. So...”
“I’d like to say she’s going to come around, but it’s Remi.”
“Tell me about it,” I agree.
“She and Kat are like two peas in the same fucking stubborn-ass pod.”
I raise my beer in a show of solidarity.
He keeps talking. “You just got to ride out the storm, man. Ride out the storm, then apologize.”
“I did fucking apologize,” I say.
“My guess? Too soon. Don’t jump on the apology until she’s ready for it. But, definitely not before.”
“How do I fucking know when she’s ready for it?”
“Beats the fuck outta me,” Matthews says. “I barely have a handle on Kat, I can’t figure Remi out too.”
“That advice is useless, man.”
“I don’t have to give you advice at all, asshole. I mean, at least you didn't take the money, right.”
I think a minute, not really knowing what to say or if I even want to continue this conversation with him. I feel like anything going down between Remi and me is just that. Between Remi and me.
“Well,” I start.
“You fucking took the money?”
I nod while taking another swig of my beer.
“Are you a moron? My God, man, where is your head at?”
“I needed it,” I say.
