Chapter 11 - Johnny - Evil Genius
“So what? You guys just hang out?”
“Yes, Ryder. We just hang out.” Ryder is having trouble understanding my new relationship with Becca. He doesn’t see how I’m able to be friends with her when I’m so clearly in love with her at the same time.
“Yeah. I don’t get it.” He shakes his head, pulling the guitar’s strap over his head and setting it in the stand. “You say you love her. And you just… drink coffee and watch movies and stuff?”
I shake my head and roll my eyes at him, not bothering to give him an answer. I know what I have with Becca isn’t conventional, but when she offered me friendship as the alternative to her one night only rule, I jumped on it. I’d rather be friends than acquaintances who fucked that one time. Besides, we do way more than just drink coffee and watch movies. We talk all the time. She’s told me a little about her childhood and I’ve told her all about mine. She loves to hear me talk about my family. Her laughter at stories involving my nieces and nephews is always so loud and innocent. Especially if the stories involve me getting hurt in some way.
Most of them do, of course, because Uncle Johnny is the man to come to when you want an epic battle. It’s my job to playfight and run around with all the kids until they’re so tired they fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. My sisters may not like it when I get the kids riled up, but they sure do love how easily they fall asleep the nights after they’ve played with me. I take my favourite uncle status seriously. I’m not happy with anything less.
Something about the way Becca listens to my family stories so intently cements the knowledge she didn’t have as wholesome an upbringing as I did. From what little she’s told me, I know that her father left when she was very young and her mother can be a little hard to deal with sometimes. She tends to shut down when we talk about her family, though, so it’s not often a topic of discussion.
She doesn’t seem to have anyone in her corner other than Alex, and with how busy she’s been with Connor lately, she hasn’t had anyone. Until now.
After that day at the tattoo shop when I tasted her for the first and last time, I’ve been nothing but a good friend. The best friend. We’ve done coffee, movies, long phone calls and text conversations, and just about anything else there is to do in Westborough. We’ve even talked about the dates her mother insists on sending her on.
I’ve even offered to help her set up a photoshoot tomorrow. She told me she’d rented a vintage couch from a prop shop, but she didn’t have any way to transport it to the location and I didn’t hesitate to volunteer my services.
And Travis’ truck.
And Travis.
He didn’t mind.
Much.
“She needs a friend right now,” I say. “And since she isn’t interested in more, I’ll gladly fill that position. She’s cool, and I enjoy spending time with her. We always have something to talk about, and we always have a great time. Would I rather be with her? Yes, of course. But she doesn’t want that. So I will keep it in my pants, and I will be her friend.”
“Yeah, because friends always volunteer to drive couches out to the middle of a field and then back again.” Travis laughs as he packs up.
We’ve been in the studio today, working on the album. He’s used his weird mind-reading power on me again, so he knows that I’m still hopelessly in love with Becca. He’s only giving me shit about it right now because he has to help move the couch tomorrow. But when he’s finally interested in a woman, and he needs help to do something for her, I will be right there. We may not always agree, but we’re still family, and that’s what family does.
“Yes, Travis. That is exactly what friends do. They help each other.”
He laughs, knowing full well he’d do the same thing if someone needed help.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I jump to grab it, knowing it’s Becca. Everyone else who texts me is here right now. The only other person it could be is her. I don’t even try to hide the ridiculous grin that stretches my lips when I look at the screen and see her message.
Becca -Hey, what are you up to?
Me -Just leaving Connor’s place. You?
Becca -Ugh. Just got back from the worst first-date ever. My mom is still trying to fix me up with someone.
“Fuck.” Okay, so maybe there are some parts of being friends with Becca that aren’t that great. Hearing about her going on a date is one of those things. Hearing that her mom is still trying to fix her up is another. But it does give me an idea.
Me -I’m coming over.
Becca -Bring beer.
Being reminded of Becca’s love for beer has me smiling again. I wonder what kind I should bring her tonight? She’s liked almost everything I’ve brought before now, but it will have to be something pretty special this time if I’m going to convince her of my plan.
“Uh-oh. What’s that smile for?” Aiden asks from behind his drum kit. He’s still messing around while the rest of us pack up. I’m sure he’ll play here for a bit longer and then go home and play some more. Drumming is his form of stress relief, like baking is mine. “You look like you’re up to something.”
“Huh? Who? Me?” I point to myself and swivel my head around, pretending to look for someone else he could be talking to. “I’m not up to anything.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s why you grinned at it like an evil genius just now?” Ryder asks.
