“I’m serious though. I assumed you’d want Andras here to help you.”
Bren nods his head. “I would have loved that but he’s busy,” he explains with a pout. What a dork. As much as I tease him, I have to admit that love looks good on Bren.
And no, I’m not jealous. Of course not!
Okay, I’m a little jealous.
Not that Bren has found someone. I’ve never felt like that towards my friend. He’s more like an older brother, but I am jealous that he’s found someone. I want that. I want my other half.
“Are they doing something with the shop?”
Bren hums. “Yeah, all three of them dressed up in matching candy outfits. They look ridiculously adorable. They have a wheel of prizes people can spin and then if people actually spend money in the shop, they get some sort of envelope filled withsomething. Either a coupon for next time or a grand prize golden ticket type deal. It’s really fun!”
“If we have a break, we should take turns checking it out.”
“Yes, please! I wanna see bae.”
“You did not just call himbae. Howoldare you, Bren?”
“Definitely young enough to call my loverbae! I know all the hip lingo, babes. I am like so totally rad, bro. I got that rizz. Skippidy toilet,” his voice trails off, “or something.”
I can’t help but laugh at my friend. He makes my life better just for being in it, even if he’s ridiculous. Maybeespeciallybecause he’s ridiculous.
“Whatever you say, old man.”
“We’re the same age!”
“Can’t prove it!” Bren sticks out his tongue, making a farting noise with his mouth.
“Real mature,” I say, rolling my eyes at him. I go back to lining up the mugs, making sure they all look nice. Once that’s all set up, I go around to the back of the table, sitting down.
Everything is set. Now we wait for the mall to officially open and for the place to fill up with people.
Bren joins me after a bit. He turns towards me. “So, how’s the job going?”
“Same as always,” I tell him with a shrug. “It’s been busy lately because one of my coworkers just had a baby.”
“Oh yeah? That’s exciting.”
I look over at my friend. “I guess?”
“You need more excitement in your life, Leo. I worry about you sometimes.”
I worry about me too sometimes. He’s not wrong but I also never actually do anything to change anything. Life feels very gray at the moment. It hasn’t always been like this, but lately I can tell something is missing.
“It’s fine,” I tell Bren. “I’m content.” The ‘for now’ goes unsaid.
“You need to get away. Take a nice vacation. Or get laid.”
My face blooms with a bright red blush. “Bren! Don’t say that so loudly!”
Bren giggles. “It’s fine, there’s no one around to hear. And I’m serious! I think that would do wonders for you.”
“You know I’ve never done that before,” I say under my breath, crossing my arms over my chest.
“All the more reason to finally do it! At the very least, you should start dating.”
“It’s not like I have men knocking down my door trying to date me, Bren.”
