Page 6 of The Last Key
“I second that,” Mark says, sitting down next to Frannie and pulling her close. They’re annoyingly adorable together. “Plus the pay is incredible.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” I say, throwing back the rest of my drink and slurping down some lo mein.
I’m open to a new path, I’m just not sure that’s the right one.
Smash a window.
The words have been ringing in my brain all day. That’s what Devon always tells me I need to do.
My mother—forever a hardass optimist—tells me to pull myself up by the bootstraps and move on to the next thing.It’s always the last key that opens the door,she loves to say—a.k.a. keeptrying and don’t give up. Easy for her to say. I can’t even find my keys most days.
Devon, on the other hand, would tell me I need to blaze my own trail. I thought I fucking was this time. Maybe I’ve been treading down the same worn path I have been for years. Maybe I do need to jump in the weeds and make my own path, but the problem is, I don’t even know which direction I want that path to go.
I need a break. And to clear my head. I need my best friend.
Looking around the room, I’m grateful to the crazy people sitting on the floor around a coffee table with me, but I miss Devon. Frannie and Hallie know me better than almost anyone. They know when I need tough love and they know when to hand me a pint of ice cream. But since the moment I met him, no one has calmed me down like Devon does. Somehow, he knows exactly what I need. A hug, pizza, getting the anger out, crying, whatever I need, he’s there.
My friendship with him was the best thing that came out of moving to Brighton. After high school, we moved to Chicago together for college, then he moved back to New York with me for a couple of years. He was working as a model at the time and was living with our friend, Justin, who we met in Chicago and is also a model. I was living with Frannie and Hallie. The five of us had the best times together, but then Justin moved back down to Georgia where he’s from. Frannie moved up to Ida. Then Devon moved back to Brighton when his dad was diagnosed with MS. Since then, we only see each other a couple of times a year, usually for joint vacations. I haven’t even been back to Brighton since graduation. That all changes next week, though. In ten days, I’m headed back for my ten-year high school reunion.
I don’t want to wait ten days.
And why the hell should I? It’s not like I’m going to find a new job in that time. Two weeks with my best friend instead of four days? Hell yes.
That’s it. Decision made.
Without another thought, I grab my phone off the table in front of me, open my travel app, and book a redeye to San Francisco tonight.
“Oh, she’s got that look in her eye,” Frannie says.
I set my phone down and look at her. “What look?”
“Thewatch out worldlook,” Hallie says, amused. “What were you doing just now?”
I shrug and smile. “Booking a flight to San Fran. Tonight.”
“Ooh, gonna go see the hot bestie early?” Hardy asks.
“Aw, you think he’s hot? I’ll be sure to tell him that Ryan Hardison has ahard-onfor him.”
“Hey now, I didn’t saythat.Not like he’s on my list.”
“I’d assume not, since you’re straight,” I say.
“Excuse me, I can appreciate a hot man. For your information, I have Henry Cavil on that list. But only if he’s in his Geralt costume.” Hardy shivers. “Mm.”
“This has taken a turn,” Mark says in bewilderment.
“Right. Back to the point. Are you finally going to jump Devon’s bones?” Hallie asks, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. She categorically loathes love for herself, but for everyone else, she’s ready to plan a wedding.
“Or even mention how you feel about him?” Frannie asks innocently.
Hard no.
I don’t bother saying we’re just friends because I know it’ll achieve nothing. They all know I have feelings for Devon, but I put them away a long time ago. As soon as I realized every girl in school wanted him and he could have whoever he wanted, I put him in the friendzone, unwilling to risk a rejection from him that could destroy our friendship. It’s too important to me, and it has been since the beginning.
It was the right decision. Nothing has ever happened between us. I went on to successfully date and hook up with other guys. Maybe notsuccessfullysince I’ve been single for more than a year, but dating other people was never an issue, and we were able tobring boyfriends and girlfriends around each other without any jealousy. Outward jealousy, at least. I’ve always been a little jealous of the girls he dates, but I get over it by leaning into our friendship. When we’re together, it’s easy to focus on that.
It’s harder when we’re apart. I’m single. My mind wanders. To Devon.
