I mean, it’s not like it’s real. I don’t have to worry about turning into a madman and taking out my relationship issues on others. It’s why I never have a boyfriend. I don’t like who I become when I’m dating someone.
See what I mean? I’m a bear.
I’m driving to his place now to work out the finer details of it, and things feel different. I can’t pinpoint why. I’m doing this to be a good friend.
Ollie isn’t the best at social situations, so being able to help him out is what any friend would do.
So again, why am I nervous?
Knocking on his door, I don’t wait for him to answer before walking in.
“Hey, Ollie.”
His head pops up from where he’s standing in the kitchen. Heat from the stove fogs his glasses as his brown hair flops over his forehead. “Hey. Sorry, I’m almost done.”
“Take your time.” I toe off my boots, caked with mud from working this morning, and pad my way toward the counter. “What are you making? Smells good.”
“Cheeseburger soup. I figured I could feed you as a thank you.”
Heading to the fridge, I grab a bottle of the beer Ollie keeps for me. “You don’t have to do that.”
Ollie reaches to the shaker-style cabinets that I helped him remodel a few years ago and pulls out two bowls. “I know, but I appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
“I’d do it for any of my friends.”
“You would?” he asks, ladling out two big spoonfuls in each bowl.
“Of course.”
“That makes me feel better,” he says, grabbing a beer and walking over to the dining room table before going back to bring out our soup bowls. “I don’t want you taking pity on me.”
It’s cozy here. After his parents moved out west, we revamped everything in his childhood home. Knocked down some walls so the first floor flowed. Ollie wanted a bigger kitchen since he loves spending so much time in there.
Always on his soups.
“Why would I do this out of pity?” It comes out as more of a growl, but I don’t like it when Ollie talks down about himself.
“Hunter, come on. We all know I’m the most awkward person in the entire world. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone, especially you. And you hate relationships.”
I shake my head, grabbing the pepper shaker from thetable and adding some to my bowl. “You know you’re not a burden to me. You’re my best friend.”
“I wish we didn’t have to do this.” Ollie stirs his soup around, not looking at me. “Maybe if I let them set me up, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
A possessive feeling washes through me. Why does the thought of Ollie being set up by his coworkers make me feel like this? It’s not likewe’redating.
“You could tell them we broke up and have them set you up.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” His eyes go wide. “They’d be a bit too much about it.”
I smile at him, digging into my soup. Delicious, as always. “Then I’ll be there for you Friday, and we won’t have to worry about it going forward.”
Ollie sighs. “Okay. What’s our story going to be?”
“Our story?”
“You know, how we met?”
“Keep it simple and tell the truth.” The small chair creaks under my weight as I lean back and kick my feet out. “There’s no need to overly complicate things.”
