“It’s the least I could do since you cooked dinner.”
We eat our fajitas quickly because they’re that fucking good, and then settle back to watch the game. It doesn’t take long for us to fall back into place discussing the game with our normal banter. By the end of the second period, we’re sitting close enough that our thighs are rubbing against one another, and all I can say is thank goodness for clothes. The sexual tension I’ve been feeling between us for the past week has been enough to make me want to throw him over the back of the couch right now and sink my cock into him. I would never do that to Bodie, though—he’s going to need to go slow.
“This is nice,” Bodie says softly during second intermission. “Thanks for having dinner with me.”
“Of course. Make food like that again, and I’ll have dinner with you every night.” I take a swig of beer and see him eyeing me in my periphery. I force myself not to look at him, pretending to watch the commentator’s reviews like they’re actually interesting, even as my heart thuds harder than ever. Bodie’s extra attention on me is throwing my insides for a loop.
I clear my throat to try to refocus on the game. Thankfully, the rest goes by without a hitch. We finish cleaning up in silence,and I excuse myself to the bathroom as he finishes the last dish in the sink.
Staring in the mirror, convincing myself this shouldn’t happen, is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. This is Bodie—my best friend since second grade. While that should be an easy enough reason to know this would work out, it’s also terrifying because what if it doesn’t? What if he doesn’t like being with a man sexually? Then it’ll be awkward and ruin our friendship. I can’t handle that—hecan’t handle that.
Light tapping on the door startles me out of my minor meltdown.
“You okay in there?”
“Yeah, just washing up. I’ll see you in the morning.” I can still hear him shifting around outside the door. “Thanks for dinner. Goodnight.”
“Okay. Night, Bryce.”
I take my time brushing my teeth and slowly open the door, hoping he went to bed. I hate avoiding him again, but I need more time to think this over.
As I climb into bed, my phone dings with a text.
Bodie
Hi
Me
Hi
Bodie
This doesn’t have to be weird, Bryce.
Me
I know
I don’t want it to be weird.
But I also don’t want to ruin our friendship, Bode.
Bodie
Why would it?
Me
Bodie, we haven’t even talked about what this is or what you want out of whatever is happening between us.
The dots come and go, and I anxiously wait for an answer. I don’t know which would be better—saving the friendship, or taking a chance on something more. I feel the heat in the back of my neck flare up like my entire body will explode if I don’t hear from him soon. Minutes go by until he finally answers.
Bodie
I honestly don’t know.
Everything is confusing right now except I know I’ve been feeling differently about you, and I want to explore that.
