Page 8 of Stay With Me

His back is to me, and I notice how she clings to him. Her fingertips practically dig into his back.

As if she suddenly remembers they’re not alone, Emily opens her eyes and looks over at me. She smiles and I nod at her.

“Come on. Let’s go inside and talk about it. Okay?” And she takes Teddy’s hand and leads him into the house, and he’s none the wiser that I was witness to his apology.

I wait another minute or two, then stand, take a deep breath, and go to find Shelly.

CHAPTER4

CHARLIE

Shelly doesn’t say a word for the entire fifteen-minute drive from Trina’s house to hers. The silence doesn’t bother me, except I know it usually means she’s angry or upset about something. Coupled with the fact that she barely spoke to me at the cookout, I assume I did something that bothered her. After parking in her driveway, I turn off the truck and angle my body to face her.

“Do you want to talk about whatever has you upset?”

Shelly scoffs. “What makes you think I’m upset, Fitz? Why should I be?”

It feels like a trick question, but I decide to answer it anyway.

“You’ve been quiet all afternoon and the fact that you haven’t said one word to me on the drive home makes it obvious.”

“Oh, I’m the one who’sobvious?” Sarcasm drips from her voice and her fair skin flushes bright red.

Frustration creeps into my chest, so I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I lean my head back on the headrest.

“Can we not do the beating around the bush thing tonight, please? Just tell me what’s wrong.” I glance over at her.

She forces a laugh but frowns at me. “Sure. I’ll tell you what’s wrong. I’m sick of my boyfriend paying more attention to another woman than to me and making it clear he has a thing for her.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask. My muscles tense at what I’m pretty sure is a fight coming, a tight ache already starting in my jaw. I turn to look at her and she’s leaning against the passenger door, facing me with arms folded across her chest and lips pursed.

“I’m talking about you and Emily. Please help me understand why she has a boyfriend but is constantly needing mine. Her car battery dies, you run to the rescue. She’s sick and Trina’s at work and you’re the one who goes to the store to get her medicine. She has a fight with her boyfriend, and you make me walk into a party by myself so you can comfort her.”

“Jesus, Shelly. She’s my friend. That’s the stuff I do for friends.”

“Is ogling her all day part of being friends? Do you think I didn’t notice you looking atherevery time I checked today?” she sneers.

“You werecheckingto see if I was looking at her? First, I was not, and second, you’re being jealous for no reason.”

Wrong choice of words…

Shelly’s eyes narrow to thin slits and her lips tighten. “I am notjealousof Emily Flynn. I’m pissed that she plays the damsel in distress card, and you fall for it every time. I’m a woman and she’s just a silly?—”

“Stop. You need to stop right now.” I clench my teeth to prevent myself from saying more. I’ll put up with a lot, but I won’t sit here and let her unfairly criticize Emily. I turn and stare forward at the windshield.

We sit in silence for a minute or two and Shelly’s glare burns into the side of my face. I don’t want to speak because my hackles are up from how she spoke about Emily, and I know my words will come out angry.

“Do you care about her?” Shelly asks with a whisper, the fight from just a few moments ago gone from her voice.

I continue to stare at the windshield, hesitant to answer.

“Of course I care about her. She’s my friend.”

Shelly sighs deeply. “Please, just answer me. Do you care about her as more than a friend?”

My hands find the steering wheel and I grip it with all my strength, as if that will somehow make this conversation stop.

“For fuck’s sake, Shelly. Why are we having this conversation? Everything is fine with you and me.”

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