“Hi, guys.” Her handshake is gentle and feels foreign now that I’m so used to Bryce’s strong hold on me whenever we’re close.It occurs to me that I much prefer the firmness of his touch over Amber’s now.
Bryce demands food as soon as pleasantries are over. Luckily, we’re seated right away before my man can get hangry. Once we’ve ordered, we all fall into conversation, Alina fitting right in with us.
“So, you guys have been friends since, like, kindergarten or something, right?” she asks.
“Second grade,” we both say together.
“Oh, are you the finish-each-other’s-sentences type of friends at this point?”
Bryce laughs with her. “Yeah, kinda.”
“That’s cute. I love that.”
“Me too,” I say, smiling warmly at Bryce.
Alina tells us how she and Calisse met, and while I’m waiting for some wild meet cute because it’s Calisse, it turns out how they met was very casual—at the bar. Alina seems to balance her, and that makes me happy for them.
“Bryce, your bags are gone.”
Bags? The scowl on Bryce’s face makes me think he knows exactly what Calisse is talking about.
“You look like you’re actually getting sleep.” She glances at me and back at our friend. “I wonder what’s different.”
“I found another tea. It’s relaxing.”
“Oh, yeah? What kind?” Calisse asks. Has Bryce really had that much trouble sleeping, and I haven’t even noticed?
“It’s something I ordered from Australia. Western area.”
“Mhm. Glad it’s helping. You deserve it.” He glares at her, and Alina changes the subject, probably sensing something is up, like I am.
I squeeze Bryce’s thigh under the table, trying to offer him silent comfort. Our hands find one another, and I realize his thumb swiping the back of my hand over and over again maybe bringing me more comfort than him. When the server comes with our food and the ladies chat with her, I lean into Bryce. “Are you okay?”
“I should be asking you the same.”
“I’m fine. Did you sleep well?”
He aims those emerald eyes at me and, with conviction, says, “I’ve never slept better in my life than when you’re lying next to me.”
The sting of my teeth on my lip centers me. I can’t let my emotions show. Did I miss something here? I feel like a terrible friend. I just nod at him because I don’t trust my voice at the moment.
His lips brush the hair by my ear as he says, “I love you, Bodie.” I nuzzle into him, wanting to tell him the same, but I can’t. Not here, not like this.
I catch Calisse watching us when the server leaves, so I ask Alina the obligatory first meeting questions about her job and whatnot as we all dig into our food.
While I say goodbye to Alina, I watch Bryce carefully as he speaks to Calisse near the cars. His jaw is tight, like she’s telling him something he doesn’t want to hear. I hurry us along to meet them, or maybe just to save him from the conversation.
“What was all that about?” I ask Bryce as soon as we get in the car.
“Nothing. She’s just pushy, that’s all.”
“I thought you were good friends. What’s she being pushy about?”
He’s quiet, with pursed lips and defeated eyes.
“Bryce, I’m supposed to be your best friend first and foremost, right?” He glances at me and then back at the road in front of us. “Bryce?”
“It’s not a big deal. I have trouble sleeping sometimes. That’s all.” The excuse is vague, but I don’t push further. Instead, Isimply nod in understanding, knowing I’ll circle back to this another day.
