Jake
Unless you ask me to.
Jake
I like talking to you, and something tells me you like talking to me, too. So…friends?
I hold my breath as I wait for a text to come through.
Lyla
I can’t give you what you want. My life is…complicated.
Jake
And what is it that you think I want?
Lyla
I don’t have friends for a reason. There are parts of my life I can’t share with you.
I ignore the ache starting to form in my chest. God, this girl is going to ruin me. Except for my family, I’ve never wanted to take on someone’s pain like I do right now. I want her to let me hold it so she can be free.
Jake
How about you share only what you want to? If I ask a question you don’t want to answer, then just let me know.
Lyla
I’m going to be the worst friend you’ve ever had.
Chuckling, I type out a response.
Jake
I’m a big boy. I think I’ll take my chances.
Jake
So…friend. How was your day at work? I want to hear all about it.
Lyla
First friend fail. I can’t text anymore. I’m in the middle of baking. I have a baby shower tomorrow at eleven, and I’m helping Clara with it. I have to get these done tonight.
Jake
Easiest friend fail recovery. Prop me up somewhere.
Lyla
What?
I read her confused text seconds before I hit send on FaceTime. By the third ring, I’m almost convinced she’s not going to answer it, but I see her face fill up the screen.
I’m not prepared to see her again as I get the same punch to the gut when her beautiful face comes into focus. She’s wearing a messy bun on top of her head this time, and her white apron is covered in smears of various desserts she must be working on. Her caramel eyes roam over my bare chest quickly before she looks away, but not before I see the faint hint of redness line her cheeks.
She can pretend all she wants that she doesn’t want me to cross the friendship line, but everything about her right now is screaming for me to storm right across it. I’ll play by her rules for now, even if it means being in the dreaded friend zone. Seeing her again, I’m in way deeper than I thought to be able to walk away. I’ll take her any way she’ll have me.
