Page 36 of Holiday Friend Zones
“Oh, babe.”I move around the booth to pull her into a hug.“I’m so sorry.”
“I took out my anger on you and my brother, and that was on me.”
“It’s not like we conspired to keep anything from you.It only just happened.”
“Yeah?”she asks, wiping a stray tear from her face.
“As in last night.”
“Oh, shit.”Joey looks chagrined.“And then I come bursting in and ruin it all when you’re knocking boots.”
I snort laugh at that.“Well, nothing has been ruined yet.”
“Does that mean you two are going to make a go of it?”
“As long as you’re okay with it,” I say.“You’re one of the most important people in my life, and I don’t want to lose you as my best friend.”
“Which is why you should date my brother.Honestly, you two are kind of perfect together.”
“Really?”I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Yeah.He needs someone that isn’t going to get mad when he spends too much time at the bar or goes out and helps Verne on the weekends,” she says.“And to give him shit when I’m not around.”
I smile.“I can give him shit if you want me to.”
“Please do.He needs to be brought down a few notches.”
“Are you going to be okay, Joe?”I ask, turning the conversation back to her.
She shrugs, tucking a long lock of brown hair behind her ear.“I mean, I don’t know.Who gives up their kid?What a shitty thing to do.”
“Someone who doesn’t know how great Max is.”
“You got that right.He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“Well, if you need Aunt Rylee to come hang out with him so you can go scream or punch someone, I can.”
“Thanks, babe.I appreciate it.But you go see my brother.I’m sure I didn’t do anything to help you two this morning.”
“You’re sure?You are my best friend and I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”
“I’ll be okay.”She gives me a watery smile.“But maybe don’t go knocking boots with my brother while I’m in the vicinity.”
“Oh my God.Can we please never say that again?”
“As long as you don’t do that or make out around me, we’re good.”
“Deal.”
Because having Joey’s seal of approval means everything to me.
Giving her one last hug, we leave the diner together.I can’t wait to go and find Chase to tell him the good news.
ChapterSeven
CHASE
Ihaven’t heard from Rylee all day.I’m trying not to worry, but ever since Joey went tearing out of my apartment, that’s all I’ve been able to do.It’s not like I could go and try to defuse the situation—I had Max to worry about.Who was thankfully clueless because he was happy watching TV.Even hanging with him until my parents picked him up didn’t help.
