Chapter Six
Bodie
It’s been two weeks since Amber broke up with me , and now Bryce is pushing me away too.
I know he said he needed time, but damn, all I want to do is kiss him, just once.
Maybe I’ll hate it and this will be all over with, and we can go back to not being awkward around each other.
What if I do like it, though? That’s the bigger issue he’s so worried about.
Either way, I have nothing better to do tonight, and I need to see him.
The Garden is full, with barely any room to move. I stumble through the crowd and walk over to the end of the bar near Calisse. I don’t want to bother Bryce so early in the night.
“Bodie, my man. How are you?” she yells as soon as she sees me. I notice Bryce turn toward us with a lopsided smile.
“Hi, Calisse. Can I get a beer?” I cut to the chase so maybe I can relax before Bryce comes over.
“You didn’t answer my question, Bodie,” she says with a playful grin.
“I’m okay, Cali. How are you?” I match her energy now.
“I’m fanfuckingtastic. One beer coming up.”
Bryce comes over with my beer a few seconds later with Calisse on his tail carrying a second.
“What the hell? Don’t you try to steal my customers.” She lovingly pushes Bryce to the side. “Here you go, handsome. It’s on the house.” She turns around and bats her lashes at Bryce as she saunters off to the next patron.
“She’s a bit ridiculous, but we love her.” Bryce laughs as he hands me the second beer. “Hey.”
“Hi.” There’s my best friend’s smile that I know so well. “I know you’re busy. You don’t have to hang out here.” I feel like I’m practically screaming over the crowd.
“I wanted to say hi. I’ll be back around, though.” He gives a gentle stroke to my forearm, ending it in a reassuring grip before he leaves. “Order some food.”
I watch him for the next hour, my attention never wavering from him. He’s hypnotic when he’s in his element. Charismatic.
“Are you afraid he’ll disappear if you take your eyes off him?” Calisse has snuck up on me.
“No.”
“Uh huh. Have you kissed him yet?” she whisper-shouts, leaning over the bar.
“Don’t beat around the bush or anything.” I don’t know why I’m surprised—Bryce has always told me Calisse is blunt in the best kind of way.
“I don’t like bushes. I prefer to get straight to the meat of it.” The inuendo behind this woman’s words is why Bryce gets along with her so well. “Just fucking do it already!”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Oh, but it is, my friend.” She begins to retreat, deciding at the last second to add more of her wisdom. “Do you love him?”
“Of course.”
“Does he love you?”
“I would hope so.”
“Then just do it, please.” Her pleading words shake me to my core—she’s right.
I need to just get it over with, but he’s so hesitant.
“He won’t reject you. So, get that look off your face.
Your friendship can withstand anything.” The firm pat on my cheek before she walks away seals the deal. She knows him almost as well as I do.
Once she’s gone and I get over my internal battle, I look for my best friend, only to find him at the other end of the bar, talking to none other than Drew.
As always, my first instinct is to go ward him off—even claim what’s mine—but then I see Bryce’s reaction to something Drew said.
He’s laughing, but his eyes say something more.
He’s looking at him the way he looked at me while making the fajitas the other night—with desire, lust. Has he changed his mind about Drew?
My hopes plummet to earth. I can’t handle watching this.
Pushing through the crowd to get some air, I get to my car and give myself a moment to breathe before driving.
I should go back in there, tell Drew to fuck off as usual, but I know in the end, it won’t turn out well for me.
Those kinds of situations never do. I need to get in my car and go home.
He’s not mine, and he’s free to do what he wants with whoever he wants.
Opening the door to our apartment, it feels cold and empty. My bedroom is usually my quiet space when I want to be alone, only now it feels dark and lonely. Does he really not want to explore anything more with me? Am I forcing him into something he’ll regret? Does Drew have something I don’t?
Getting ready for bed feels like I’m moving in slow motion, contemplating all my options on how to approach Bryce.
The air quickly turns suffocating—I can’t stay in this room.
I need to be somewhere else; anywhere else.
When I enter the hallway, I catch the scent of Bryce, his cologne from before he left for work lingering in the space.
Instead of walking toward the kitchen, my feet take me to his room—to his bed.
Climbing under his covers, I’m enveloped in his warmth even in his absence.
It’s the perfect space to be in my thoughts.