“You make it sound so easy.”
Clint’s face softens, and he reaches out to brush a tear away. “Fine. Let’s try another approach. I don’t think anything will happen, but if it does, you won’t be alone. You will always have me. I will even move my ass all the way to Boston or London or fucking Timbuktu if that is what you want. I won’t ever leave your side. So even if you lose your friends, Max, and the job, you won’t ever be alone. So take the leap.”
I start to sob, making Clint stand from his chair and pull me up with him. Clint pulls me into a hug and holds me. I let all my fear leave me as he holds me.
He’s right. This is stupid. Why am I questioning this now? Max loves me. I know it. I’ve known it for a long time. Am I really going to let my future walk past me because I’m scared?
No. I can’t.
I love him.
I needed time to process everything that happened, but nothing has changed for me. Well, at least not with Max.
Max. I need to talk to Max.
I step back, and Clint lets his arm fall as I dry my tears. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Now how about we get you home so you can go patch things up with pretty boy?” he says.
“Pretty boy?” I laugh.
“You have to admit. He sure looks pretty.” He winks at me.
I shake my head, letting him walk me back to my place.
As much as I look forward to moving back to Boston, I’ll miss New York. I’ll miss Clint. Friends like him don’t come around very often, and I hate the idea of us drifting apart. Although, I have a suspicion that much like Max, Clint will always be a permanent fixture in my life, which I’m thankful for.
MAX
I toss myself down onto my couch and place my arm over my face. I imagined confessing my feelings to Iris so many times, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would go like that. I pictured her crying tears of joy, smiling and teasing me that it was about time, her quietly professing her love back to me, butnever, and I mean never, did I think she would kick me out of her place.
Still, I didn’t handle things right, and now I’m paying the price.
It’s been two days. Two long days without even a glimpse of her. Bernard has taken pity on me and let me know that she hasn’t left, so I know she’s still inside, but it doesn’t help when she doesn’t want to talk to me.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it, not in the mood to talk to anyone. I know it’s not Iris. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want to talk to me.
Again and again it goes off. Someone really wants to get ahold of me right now, but unless it’s Iris, I’m not interested.
My smartwatch makes a noise.
“Dude, stop whatever it is you’re doing and answer your damn phone,” Brantley says through the walkie-talkie app.
Groaning, I remove my arm from over my face and hit the button.
“Fuck off,” I grumble.
He tries calling again, and I ignore it.
“Seriously, answer the fucking call, or I’ll send police to your place for a wellness check. Don’t think I won’t do it,” he warns.
“I’ll call you later,” I lie, knowing full well I won’t.
Instead of responding, he calls.
Goddammit. Why does my best friend have to be a nosy fucker?
“What do you want?” I mutter as I answer the FaceTime.
