Sebastian put on the armor of control he wore whenever things went wrong in the operating room and the air started to smell like panic. “And?”
“She told me that she likes me as a friend and nothing more.”
The air squeezed from his chest.
Leah wasn’t falling in love with Ben. And yet ... what came as a tremendous relief to Sebastian was devastating his friend. “I’m sorry.”
“She just suddenly brought up the subject. Out of the blue. Which makes me think that you must have told her that I like her.”
Crap.
“Did you tell her that?” Ben prodded.
“Yes.”
“And did you also tell her to go out to dinner with me?”
“Yes. I was trying to help.”
“I didn’t need your help,” Ben said tightly, clearly struggling with his temper. “I didn’t want your interference.”
“She had no idea that you liked her, Ben. She was never going to figure it out unless someone told her.”
“I disagree. She would have figured it out for herself. I wanted it to happen naturally.”
“You’ve known her for two years. When? When was she going to figure it out for herself?”
“I don’t know, but I was content waiting.”
“I wasn’t content watching you wait.”
“My relationship with Leah isn’t about you or your preferences,” Ben snapped.
Sebastian bit his lip to force himself to shut up. Tension filled the silence. He’d thought recently about how quickly Ben usually got over his anger. It didn’t look like that was going to happen this time. “You’re right. I apologize.”
More jagged quiet.
“You told Leah,” Ben said, “that one of your frustrations with me is that I don’t confront you when you do things that bother me. So let me tell you something outright.”
Sebastian braced himself. “Go ahead.”
“I’ve shared a lot with you over the years. My room. Vacations. Family gatherings.”
“Yes.”
“I know you like Leah, but I draw the line at sharing her with you.”
He didn’t answer.
“Sebastian?” Ben demanded.
“Okay.”
The line went dead. Sebastian cursed.
Ben had shared a lot more with him than the things he’d mentioned. During Sebastian’s two years of high school, Ben hadshared some of his paycheck with Sebastian, so that Sebastian could join him at the movies, so that Sebastian didn’t have to wear an uncool brand of socks, so that Sebastian could split the pizzas Ben ordered. Ben had shared his parents’ attention with Sebastian. He’d shared his time and sweat moving Sebastian from one dorm room to another. These days, Ben even shared his nieces and nephews with Sebastian.
It had taken nineteen years, but he’d finally found the limit to what Ben was willing to share.
