“I think you’re using that as an excuse because you’re scared.”
“Yeah, scared of getting shut down again. I told myself I was going to move one, move forward, that’s what I’m doing.”
“No, you’re not scared she’s going to shut you down. You’re scared she’s going to feel the same way.”
“And why would that scare me?”
“Because that would make it real, Fletcher. And if it’s real, then that means you have something to lose.”
“This is the last time I invite you to the gym with me.” I motion for her to get up so I can take her place. I add back my additional weights, then shimmy below the bar.
“I’m just the voice of reason.”
“Can you be the voice of reason somewhere else?” I ask, pushing the bar up. “Or at least for someone else.”
“All I’m saying, Fletcher, is the longer you let things go on like this, the more distance that’s going to grow between you and Tate. Before you know it, she’ll practically be a stranger.”
“That won’t happen. We have too much history.”
“It’s easy to say that, to feel that way until it does.”
“So, what should I do?”
“I think you need to start turning to your best friend more. I know it’s easy to come to me and talk to me about these thingsbecause I’m an outsider, but if my best friend stopped telling me things because they found someone else to talk to, I’d be hurt.”
“You think I should’ve told her about Casey?”
“I think her finding out because you guys showed up to the same bar probably fucking sucked.”
“Yeah.”
“You weren’t happy that she was with another guy there.” The bar clinks against the holder as I set it down. I sit up, shaking out my arms, before unloading our weights.
“It wasn’t that she was with a guy; it was the fact that she was drunk with a guy she barely knew.”
“From what you’ve told me, Tate’s a big girl. She can handle herself.”
“I don’t doubt that. But I also don’t trust douchey-looking guys. Both things can be true at the same time. Tate can take care of herself, but Robby was a douche.”
“So, in turn, you acted like a douche?”
“I—”
Maybe she’s right. I probably went about the whole situation at the bar that night all wrong. I just wanted to make sure Tate was safe, but in the process, I pushed her even further into his arms. Casey definitely didn’t help that situation, either.
“I’ll talk to her,” I promise. “I’m supposed to go over to her place later and help her build furniture.”
“Perfect. Now we just have to figure out how you’re going to talk to Casey about what’s going on between you guys.”
She pats my chest and heads to another machine.
I sigh.
But follow behind her.
Ididn’t realize this was a furniture-building party.” I drop the two pizzas I picked up on the way over on Tate’s kitchen counter. “I would’ve brought more food.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Brinley flips through the instruction manual. “We ate at the diner before we came over here.”
