Page 107 of That Friendzone Feeling
“YoumeanIbought this for us without even knowing?”Iask.
“Emilypicked it out for you all.”Heunloads plates of nachos, chunky french fries, mini samosas, and other assorted appetizers.
Leonplaces a hand on my shoulder. “Whaton earth’s got into you this evening?Youdisappear for a couple of weeks, then show up with a face like a rainy weekend.”
Iopen my mouth, butConnorspeaks for me. “Makinga new beer is hard work.Butnever fear, we’re here to cheer him up.”
Leonlooks fromConnortoElliottoOwen. “Idon’t envy you.Helooks like a lost cause.”Hepats me on the back and points atKaraokeKorner. “Howabout you get up and sing us all a song?”
Irest my chin on my fist and stare at him. “YouknowIcan fire you, right?”
Leonholds up his hand in surrender. “Allright, all right.Igive up.”Heshakes his head at my cousins. “Goodluck, fellas.”
Hetucks the tray under his arm and weaves his way between smiling couples toward the kitchen.
“WhatIwant to know,”Isay to the guys, “is what made you all thinkI’dbeen crazy aboutEmilyforever?”
Itturned out, during the last couple of weeks of conversations, thatConnorandElliotaren’t the only ones who’d always assumedIwas in love with her—everyone thought the same.Forall of them it’s always been an obvious unspoken fact.
“Oh,Idunno,”Connorsays. “Maybethe way you talk about her all the time.”
“Andthe way you look at her,”Owenadds.
“Andthe way you touch her like it’s the most natural thing in the world,”Elliotsays.
“Seriously?”Iask. “Andyou’ve all thought this right from the start?For, like, ten years?”
Theyall nod.
“Jesus, guys.Itwould have been helpful if you’d told me.BecauseIonly figured it out a few weeks ago.”
“Howcould you not see it?”Connorasks.
“Yeah, you must have realized she made you feel things no one else ever did,”Owensays.
Elliotgazes into his beer. “Andthat all you want to do is be around her all the time and talk to her all the time.”Buthe looks like he might not be talking about me.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.Ihate you all.”Ipick up my drink. “I’mjust going to sit quietly in this corner and get drunk on my own beer.”
Theguys look away from me as the room falls silent and all attention turns toKaraokeKorner.
Emily’sstanding on the little stage, holding the microphone.
“Oh,God,”Imutter to myself.Ifshe’s going to make a sugary speech about love to this loved-up crowd,I’mnot sureIcan bear it.
Sheis stunning.Ofcourse she is.
Stickingwith the theme of the night, she’s in a pink dress.Itfits snugly around her breasts—breasts that were so smooth under my fingers and their nipples so hard under my tongue—hugs her waist, then flares out to stop just above her knees.
Belowit, is a pair of her hot-as-hell knee-high stiletto boots.
Shedoes the thing where she pulls her hair over to one side and drapes it over her shoulder.Theglossy brown stands out against the pink.
“Hi, folks,” she says, every eye in the place on her. “Ihope you’re all having a great evening with your loved ones.Whetherthat’s your partner, a member of your family, or”—she looks over in our direction—“your best friend.”
Hergaze is like an arrow to my heart.Andit hits the bull’s-eye, forcing out a groan likeI’vebeen kicked in the chest.
“I’msure what you all want is a cozy evening,”Emilycontinues. “AndI’msorry to interrupt, butIwon’t keep you long.Ijust want to remind everyone how very important the person or people you’re with in this room tonight are to you.”
