Page 31 of Welcome to the Friendzone

Slowly Marta rose to her feet, stepped in front of Oliver, and placed her hands on his forearms.

“May I say something now?”

She gave him a weak smile, carefully caressing her finger over his hairy forearms.

He didn’t answer, giving her silent permission to continue.

“First of all, you would be an amazing catch. Whoever gets you as her boyfriend one day is one damn lucky bitch.”

Oliver chuckled at her choice of words, mimicking his cursing from before.

“I can’t deny the chemistry between us. You’re my best friend.”

The man in front of her groaned, hating the last two words more than anything else. He didn’t want to be her best friend.

“You might even be more,” she quickly added, letting his eyes slightly widen, and a sparkle appeared in them.

Was this it? Was she finally allowing him to date her?

“But I can’t date you. It’s not possible. I like you more than I care to confess. I’d even call it love. I dare you to even try to say something now.”

Oliver’s mouth had dropped open at the point of her confessing her love to him but he closed it as soon as he heard her words and felt her index finger prod into his chest. Instead both of them only looked into each other’s eyes, taking deep breaths. Oliver was the first one to break the silence.

“But why? I don’t understand it. I love you, you love me. We’re more than just dating, we’re fucking confessing our feelings, Marta.”

“I know.”

“Then explain it to me. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” she blurted out, the tears she had tried so hard to hold back falling down her cheeks.

Instinctively, Oliver grabbed her into a tight hug, pressing her face into his chest. He could smell the coconut in her shampoo as he snuggled his nose deep inside the messy and curly brown hair.

“You won’t lose me,” he mumbled, pulling her even closer and rubbing his hand along her spine.

“You don’t know that,” she sobbed into him, her hands wrapped around his middle.

He felt them shake.

“I can take care of myself, Sugar.”

Marta wiggled out of his embrace, looking at him with an unreadable expression.

“What did you just call me?”

“Sugar. Not okay?”

“No, well yes. I don’t know. I like it.”

They looked at each other before bursting into laughter. That was the most confusing answer she had ever given him.

“Sugar it is then.”

He pulled her in for another hug, knowing that she needed him close now.

“You won’t lose me, Sugar. I promise,” he added.

“I didn’t expect to lose Frank either. He was a lawyer, Oliver. I was the Agent, the one out in the field, undercover. He was a fucking lawyer. I brought that criminal into our house. I got him killed. He was innocent.”

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