Chapter 2
Edward
Bram is acting strange.
The man is so easy to read. I can tell he’s got something to tell me from the moment he fusses over me in the back of the car. His worry is just to distract from whatever else is going on.
I wonder if he’s going to surprise me with what we’re doing for the holidays this year. Maybe he planned something for us like he did in the summer. Our trip to Mexico was somewhat unexpected. I enjoyed our week there, as well as the new friendships I found while there.
Duval and Foster are the perfect match for me and my grumpy bestie. Well, grumpy probably isn’t the word. He’s really more stoic than anything else. A recluse type.
If he doesn’t have to be around others, he won’t. I joke about how his office is more like a throne room looking out over the city than it is a place to conduct business.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I ask as I snuggle deeper into his jacket. I’m not actually cold, but I won’t dare tell him that.
As subtly as possible, I sniff the fabric as he looks out the window. His scent, the one I love so much I bought a bottle of his cologne for my own uses, surrounds me. It’s rich and manly, with a bit of something that’s so Bram it makes my knees weak every time I get a whiff.
We make it to the restaurant before he answers. Not because it’s a short drive really. I think it’s more that my friend is avoiding me.
Which is odd since he called me up to hang out.
Oh, no.
What if he’s got bad news to tell me? Is he dying? Is the business shutting down? Is he going to have to move across the world to open a new satellite office?
Or worst of all — has he finally found someone to take care of and now he’s letting me down gently?
I know our friendship is unconventional. The closeness we share isn’t something you see most men doing. We’re practically stuck to the hip most weeks.
If he starts dating seriously, that person isn’t going to want me around. They’ll tell him I’m too much and demand our friendship take a break.
Bram will fight it at first. I know him. He won’t want to upset me.
But over time, things will change. He’ll sink deeper into the relationship, leaving me and our connection behind. I can see it as if it’s already happened.
“Edward?”
His voice pulls me away from my thoughts. I turn to look at him, then immediately drop my gaze to my hands. There are tears in my eyes from the hypothetical scenario I created in my head. I don’t want him to notice them.
Unfortunately for me, my bestie is the master of paying attention to things. He puts a finger under my chin, lifting me until our eyes lock.
“What’s wrong?” he asks softly.
I sniff. “Are you… are you breaking up with me?”
“What? Breaking up — what are you talking about?”
“Did you find someone? Did they tell you we can’t be friends anymore because they’re jealous? I knew it would happen one day. I just thought I had more time.” I shake my head as more tears trail down my cheeks.
He pulls me over into his lap. Strong arms band around me as my face presses to his chest.
“I’m not sure where you got such an insane idea, but that’s not what’s happening at all. There is no one else, Eddie. I promise.” I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head. “I work too much to date. And when I’m not at the office, I’m with you. Tell me you understand.”
I nod slowly against him as the reality of his words settles over me.
He’s not dating anyone.
We’re going to stay close like this.
If both of those are true, then why is he acting weird? Is it the sickness stuff instead? Could it be worse?
I whimper. “Are you sick? Will you die soon?”
Firm hands grip my shoulder and dip me back until I’m looking into deep brown eyes that are so dark they’re almost black. The intensity in them makes me shudder.
“I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t about my health or dating or anything like that. Let’s get some food in you, then we can chat more.”
I want to argue with him. To tell him I won’t move a muscle until he just spits out whatever is bothering him.
But then my stomach grumbles loud enough to have his eyes widening. I blush at the expression as I recall the conversation earlier.
He knows I haven’t been eating properly this week. With his schedule busier than normal and me trying to get a little ahead, there’s been no time to have anything more than the basics.
It would be fine if the basics weren’t burgers, fries, and nuggets.
Bram swears I’m shortening my lifespan by eating the ‘garbage’ foods. I remind him that not everyone has access to a private chef or the city’s finest restaurants on speed dial. My budget isn’t too tight, however, that is a level I’m nowhere near crossing.
“Ok,” I relent after a minute of holding the strange position.
He eases me back up to a sitting position, then turns me until my feet hang out the open door. I look up to see his driver smirking down at me. I roll my eyes at him before jumping out of the car.
“Good to see you too, Mr. Edward.”
“Same to you, Buster.”
There’s a snort from the man who is very much not named Buster, while Bram huffs and thanks him. He’s told to remain close, then we’re being swept into the sushi house and into a back room.
Nothing but the best for a Laurier.
Bram doesn’t always take advantage of his family name or the power it holds. He usually only throws it around when it comes to feeding me or getting us into something sold out in Bellport. For being a small town, there sure is a hell of a lot to do here.
Granted, I think we’ve upgraded to a midsize city in the last decade or so. The Bellport family, whom the town is named after, has taken to building Bellport into a place to be proud of. People come far and wide to see the sports teams here, who went from obscure to champions in a couple of years.
My best friend waits until after we’ve ordered our food to give me his attention. His tight shoulders and frown lines give away the fact that this is bad news.
“Just tell me,” I plead. “I’m sick with worry.”
He nods firmly. “The truth is… I’m going on vacation tomorrow for the holiday.”
I smile, excited he’s finally telling me the plan.
“Alone,” he adds.
“Alone?”
“Yes, alone. I need some time. Some space. My mind is all over the place right now. I think this will be best for us both.”
My brows dip. “Best for us both? How can you possibly think that? You’re my person. My best friend. What am I going to do now?”
“You have friends other than me. What about Foster and Duval? You could call them up. Or maybe one of the other Littles you know. I’m sure they’ll be doing a holiday get together.”
I’m shaking my head before he finishes. “Foster and Duval should spend their first Christmas together as a couple without a third wheel. And the other Littles might have something, but it would be hella weird for me to go alone. They all have Daddies.”
My skin flushes at the use of the word. I’m always careful not to say it too much around Bram. It would be far too easy to slip up and call him by the title.
We don’t have that kind of relationship though. No matter how much I’ve wished for it, he’s never pushed for more.
And he would have to be the one to bring it up. I couldn’t dare risk our friendship on a crush.
Even if it’s been years since I realized I loved him.
“Why hadn’t you mentioned any of that?” Bram’s face is pinched with some expression I don’t recognize.
I throw my hands up. “Because it doesn’t matter. I didn’t think I’d be around any of them anyway. It’s always us. Always you and me.”
“Yes, it is.” His voice is soft, with a hint of frustration.
“Is it that you don’t want me around? Am I too much trouble?”
He shakes his head. “That’s not it at all. You know I love spending time with you. I was being honest when I said there’s some stuff I need to think about. I can’t… I can’t do that with you around.”
I go over the facts in my head as the waiter appears with the food.
My best friend is going through something he doesn’t want to talk about.
He’s telling me he needs space away from me (and everyone else, but mostly me).
This is a last-minute change because he knows I’d find a way to change his mind if he gave me more notice.
Speaking of which — “When do you leave?”
“My flight is in the morning. I’ll be gone for a week.”
“Where are you going?” I say as I stuff a crab rangoon in my mouth. I’m trying to keep my cool while also probing for information he probably shouldn’t give me.
Probably shouldn’t because he doesn’t fully understand the level of obsession I have with him. I will track him down like the stalker I can be to spend the holidays with him.
Is it wrong to crash his holiday? Yes.
Will it stop me? No.
Because if we’re both in the same place for an extended time, especially a secluded space like I suspect he’s going to, then I can pin him down to help him through this problem.
And if the problem is me, then it’s even better. I want to fix whatever is bothering him, however I can.
“I’m going to the mountains. There’s a cabin I’m renting…”
The rest of dinner goes on as if there’s no tension between us. I laugh and joke like normal, all while I plan my holiday takeover.
He might think he’s getting some space from me.
Instead, he’s going to have a space full of me, just the way it should always be.