Page 34 of Friends Rucked Up

“You’re allowed to be stressed,” Lance says, trying to reassure me.

“He is, but I don’t see you acting like Alfie,” Harlan says.

“That’s because I don’t have a secret that’s eating away at my insides.” Lance gets to his feet and moves away from us.

Yeah, thanks for that, buddy.

“What’s he talking about?”

I down the rest of my beer before standing up so I can make my exit. On the way to the door, I schedule an Uber. Once outside, Harlan grabs my shoulder, spinning me around.

“I’ve only just got here. We can’t leave.”

“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” I pause, but chicken out of telling him the truth so I add, “I need to go to bed and sleep off the events of today.”

“Tell me what’s going on with you. It can’t just be losing the game that has you so rattled.” He studies me closely and I feel like I’m under a microscope. He frowns while he ponders his next words. “Does this have something to do with Saylor?”

My heart feels like it stops in my chest. “What makes you think that?”

He rubs his chin. “Neither of you are completely acting like yourselves and I’m getting a strange vibe when I’m in the same room as you both.”

He’s given me the perfect opening to finally explain how I feel about Saylor, but if I take it, there is no going back. Pandora’s box will truly be open, and I can’t predict the consequences. Thinking back to this morning with Saylor, I hated upsetting her the way I did. She has to be my main priority in this situation, although I want to ease Harlan into my confession.

“Something is changing between Saylor and me.”

“Have you been sleeping with my sister?” He holds my stare and I don’t look away.

“No. I wouldn’t do that without speaking to you.”

He finally breaks eye contact while brushing his hand over his brows. “Then what are you trying to say?”

“I think I’m in love with her.”

“You think?” He narrows his eyes.

“Saylor should be the first one to hear those words from my lips.” Hopefully my cryptic words are enough for him to understand how serious I am about her.

The taxi pulls up, breaking our conversation. I climb in first, taking the front passenger seat. Harlan hesitates before getting in the back seat. The drive home is in complete silence and I’m glad. Now I’ve told him how I feel, we probably both need some space to process what this means.

Once inside my apartment, I use the bathroom and head to bed. The situation will still be the same in the morning, and all I want to do is sleep.

***

My alarm goes off and I quickly dress for my morning run. Saylor’s getting into her car as I pass. I don’t want it to be awkward between us, but I’m unsure how to approach the shaky ground we find ourselves on. Raising my hand, I wave in greeting. She reopens the car door.

“Is that all you have to say? A quick wave and you’re on your merry way?” she asks.

Okay, so she’s obviously still angry with me from her tone.

I stop dead in my tracks and turn around to face her. “I’m not going anywhere, Saylor. I’ll always be here for you.”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with your friendship with Harlan,” she mutters just loud enough for me to hear.

“I told him how I feel about you.” The words hang between us as shock registers on her face.

“How did that go?” she finally says.

“He’s sleeping on it.” He didn’t punch me when I broke the news, so at least that’s something.

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