He pulls his brows in. “Why would I be—”
“Or Baylor,” I add.
He stares at me, trying to decipher the look on my face. “I only ever told them to stay away from you because I thought that was what you wanted. You can make your own choices, Pen. I’m not here to stop you.”
“He told me.” There’s a heaviness that comes after those words. I take a deep breath and continue, “Baylor said that you, um …” I push my fingers through my hair anxiously. “He told me how you … sort of …”
His eyes close when he realizes what I’m struggling to get out. “Shit.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”
“That was kind of the whole point.”
“I’m sorry, Henry.”
He grips the back of the chair he’s leaning on. “Please don’t apologize.”
“I just feel bad for not recognizing it.” I shake my head. “I mean, I’ve seen you with girls, and that’s completely different.”
“None of the girls I’ve been with are girls I’ve ever seen a future with.”
Guilt creeps up my throat, creating one big lump. “How come you never said anything?”
That question makes him sigh heavily. “Would it have made a difference?”
I look down.
“Exactly,” he says. “It would’ve ruined everything. I know you, Pen. And I know that I’m not the type of guy you fall for.”
“And why not?”
“Because you’ve dated guys just like me and it never works out. I told you, you need to find someone who challenges you.”
We both drift our focus into the other room and look at Baylor.
“Now, that, I did not see coming.”
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, watching as Baylor walks around the pool table, eyeing his lineup. He rolls his cuffs up and bends over, shooting a striped ball into the corner pocket.
Henry laughs once. “But, fuck, it kind of makes sense.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “It does, doesn’t it?”
The heaviness becomes more bearable, but I can’t help but feel a sadness that our friendship will forever be changed. Different.
“Stop looking at me like I’m some sad puppy no one wants at the shelter. I’ll find my girl someday, but I can’t ever lose you as my friend, Aspen. I won’t.” His words are final.
My eyes burn, tears threatening to surface. “Okay,” I say.
And then he hugs me, the same way he always has, and I feel like everything is going to be okay.
“Hey, Aspen. How does it feel to be one hundred grand richer?” Luke asks when I saunter back in.
“What?” I come to a halt in the middle of the room.
Henry points over at a stack of bills sitting on the poker table in the corner. “Your winnings.”
I laugh.
