Page 30 of Silver Fake

I smile. "Okay."

I watch him walk out the door, then fall down on the couch and drop my face in my hands. I don't have any idea what we're doing now. Things feel a lot more real than they did when I first got here today. I'm just not sure if that is a good thing yet or not.

CHAPTER10

John

I takea sip of my beer and look over at Wyatt, trying to gauge his reaction.

I just finished telling him the whole story about my fake relationship with Lisa. It's not every day you tell your best friend that you're in a fake relationship with your secretary -- especially when you're as old as I am. The words felt heavy and ridiculous leaving my mouth, hanging in the air like the smoke.

The two of us are sitting at a high top table inside of The Silver Coop. It's a classic seaside bar on the Barton Beach Boardwalk, the kind of place with worn wooden floors that have been soaked in spilled beer and echoed with the laughter and stories of a thousand Friday nights. The air carries the scent of salt and old wood, mixing with the more immediate smells of alcohol and the deep-fried food from the kitchen.

The bar is packed tonight, with a sea of locals and vacationers spilling in and out from the boardwalk while a jukebox in the corner churns out a steady stream of classic rock.

Wyatt sat silently the entire time I spoke, his demeanor unchanging as my story unfolded.

His blue eyes, usually full of laughter, were thoughtful, focused entirely on me as he absorbed every word. Ever since we were kids, Wyatt has always had this uncanny ability to sit, seemingly untouched by time, letting you spill your guts without interruption.

But since I finished speaking, he hasn’t said anything.

A young waitress with a bright smile and a tray of drinks walks over to our table. "Can I get you two anything else? Another round, maybe?" she asks, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Wyatt, breaking his gaze from me, looks up at the waitress and nods, "Yeah, another one for me, thanks."

I quickly agree, "Same for me, please.”

She flashes another smile and turns to head back towards the bar, leaving Wyatt and I to return to our previous silence, our thoughts swirling more potently than the beer in our glasses.

I sigh. "Look, whatever it is that you want to say, just say it. I promise I can handle it."

Wyatt chuckles and takes a sip of his beer. Finally, he says, "I'm happy for you."

I quirk an eyebrow at him. "That's all? You're happy for me?"

He shrugs. "What else is there to say?"

For a second I just stare at him.

Wyatt has always been the kind to dive deep into the details, to dissect every situation and offer relentless advice. I was expecting a lecture, maybe a few well-placed curse words. Not this nonchalant acceptance.

"I guess I was expecting you to tell me that this whole thing is a bad idea."

Wyatt chuckles. "Oh, I definitely think it's a bad idea."

"Then why are you happy for me?"

Wyatt grins, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he does. "I'm happy for you because it's obvious that you've got feelings for Lisa. And she clearly has feelings for you too." He points his beer bottle at me for emphasis. "So what if she's your secretary? You're both adults. There's no rule saying you can't go on a few dates."

I snort. "That's not entirely accurate."

"What do you mean?"

"Our firm has a strict no-fraternization policy. If Lisa and I ever did decide to date for real, I wouldn't just be risking the relationship—I'd be risking my career."

Wyatt chuckles, leaning back in his seat. "You're a lawyer." His blue eyes twinkle with amusement as he continues, "You've spent your entire career finding loopholes and solutions for others in similar situations. I'm sure, given some thought, you could find a way."

Then he raises his bottle in a toast. "To finding a way."

---