Page 94 of Friends Like This

“Nothing. I was supposed to be at Joel’s like fifteen minutes ago,” I say with a laugh. “Hey, do you want to come?”

He thinks for a second and looks me over. “No, that’s okay. You should go have fun with your friends. I know they only tolerate me, anyway.” He means it as a joke, but it doesn’t quite land that way.

“Davey…”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick about this. You’re right, I have been insecure. Like I said, I’ve never cared before. I’ve never felt like someone could hurt me before.”

“I wouldn’t hurt you like that,” I say.

“I want to believe that,” he says, staring behind me. I turn to see Aaron walking up the side yard. He sighs. “I’m working on it, I promise. Call me later. We’ll grab dinner or dessert, okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” I say, rubbing his arms.

He squeezes my hand, gives me a peck on the lips that’s so quick I don’t even have time to return it, and then walks around the car.

He throws his hand up in a wave to Aaron. “Cooper.”

“Hey, man.” Aaron nods at Davey, but then his gaze flits to me, concerned.

Davey smiles and waves as he climbs in his car.

I watch him pull away, dumbfounded.

When he’s gone, Aaron puts both hands on my shoulders and stares at me. “What happened?”

I barely meet his eyes before shaking my head. “He thinks I’m going to hurt him. Thatweare going to hurt him.”

Aaron furrows his brow in confusion, then his eyes widen. “Shit.”

“Yeah. I thought he was going to break up with me.”

“But he didn’t…”

“No. But he doesn’t seem okay, either.”

Aaron looks at me with concern. “You okay?”

I shake my head and sigh. “I have no idea. But you know what’ll help?”

“Cards? Junk food? Cheesy movies?”

“All of the above. And my best friends,” I say.

Aaron throws his arm over my shoulders.

“Let’s go then.”

We start walking across the driveway toward the backyard to Joel’s house, but I find myself looking back at the driveway, where Davey’s car was, as if it will tell me something more, or answer the question I don’t want to ask…

Is everyone else right? Is there something more between Aaron and me?

“Hey. You okay?” Joel asks, as we refill drinks and food platters in his kitchen.

I let out a sigh as I sit down at his kitchen counter.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, coming to sit next to me.

“Joel, do you really think there’s something more between Aaron and me?”

---