Page 15 of Accidentally Falling For My Best Friend
“We didn’t meet until college, but we’ve been attached at the tit since we were roommates freshman year,” Sage explains with her own faint Southern accent. Oak bursts out laughing before I can even register her unique phrase, but she goes on like nothing happened.
“We both knew we wanted to spread our wings a little after college, though, so we moved away from our families and up to Chicago,” Aspen adds. “My father wasn’t very excited about me moving so far away and ditching the life he had planned for me, but he makes sure that we video call a lot. Plus, he takes the jet up here when he really wants to see me, and Sage’s parents do thesame thing,” she adds. I can tell her comment sets Oakley at ease, it’s obvious they come from extreme wealth like he does.
Oak’s always been very vocal about wanting his storybook happily ever after. The wife and kids with the big mansion in the suburbs. But, one of themanyreasons that he’s struggled to find this elusive “perfect” wife, is that so many women are only after his family’s name and the lifestyle that they think is attached to it.
That’s part of why I was surprised that he went so all-out planning this first date, but I guess that he was right about them having money of their own if they can afford to live in our building.
I’m aware that theotherreasons he’s still single have to do with me and our “codependent” friendship, so I try not to focus on them and the guilt that I feel about potentially holding him back. I know it’s not my decision, and if he wants space from me to date more, I won’t stand in his way.No matter how much I dread the fact that he’ll no longer be my roommate one day.Maybe Aspen and Sage will be less likely than our exes to complain about us living together, how much time we spend together, or how often we bring the other up in conversation. They’re the same way with each other.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our friendship because I know how lucky I am to have Oak in my life, and I’ll never take it for granted. Oakley has also assured me,and any of his exes who dared question our relationship, that anyone he ends up with will understand how important I am to him. I’ll never feel like I deserve that level of loyalty from him, even if I love it. Even after all of these years, there’s that small part of me that’s confused about what he sees in me, why he chose to be my friend when everyone else labeled me as awkward.
Sage and Aspen seem just as close as we are, though, so this could be the perfect set up. The whole “wife and kids” future has always seemed a little less certain to me thanit has to Oak. Maybe it’s because of my grief over losing Dad like I did that I haven’t been able to picture myself with a family of my own one day, or maybe I just haven’t found my person.
I don’t hate the idea. It’s definitely easier to imagine that type of future for myself if Oakley and I had wives who were also best friends. We could live next door to each other and raise our kids together. That wouldn’t be too different than having him in the room next to mine. And I know it would make him happy to have a big family like the one he grew up in and has always wanted.
Alright, slow down, this is a first date, not a marriage proposal.I don’t need to put that kind of pressure on tonight.
We watch the sunset over the Chicago skyline and enjoy the fancy meal that Oakley’s private chef manages to prepare on the moving boat, a feat which always impresses me. When the chill from the wind over the water becomes uncomfortable, we move inside to the couches that are in the boat’s living room area. I did offer my sweater to Aspen outside, and she still has it wrapped around her legs where she’s seated next to me on the couch. The crew are all upstairs, so it’s just the four of us down here, and if it wasn’t for the slight rocking of the boat, or the lit-up city in the distance, it would be easy to forget that we’re not sitting in someone's home.
We promised the girls, and the crew, we wouldn’t be out too late. So, after another drink inside and a round of Scrabble that we are all probably a little too invested in, complete with special metal pieces that are heavy enough not to be disturbed by the motion of the lake, we head back. They’ve recently added docks for private boats on the north side of Navy Pier, and the girls suggest we do the Centennial Wheel.
The night has been full of laughter, and I’ve loved how easy it’s been to get to know Aspen; turns out she’s a popular wedding dress designer and Oak immediately starts listing ideas of how we can incorporate her dresses in promo for the newresort. With Oakley and Sage here, there hasn’t been any awkward silences or wondering if I’m boring her. Looking at Oak’s wide grin as he tells yet another joke, and remembering how often the girls exchanged smiles, it’s clear that everyone’s had a good time.
Aspen has her arm tucked into mine as we make our way over to the rides, her other arm through Sage’s, who’s in a similar position with Oakley so that the four of us are connected. It’s easy to picture them spending time in our apartment with us, working out, eating dinner together, and watching our shows from the big sectional.
I feel like, for the first time in my life, I’m actually excited about the idea of starting a relationship. Maybe itispossible for us to settle down without sacrificing the friendship that’s always been the most important thing in my life.
Hopefully I’m not the only one feeling this optimistic.
We get our tickets and skip the line because Oakley paid for that option. “Haven’t you been on it before?” I ask when I notice that Aspen looks nervous.
“We’ve been here for years already, but I can’t say we’ve actually been on it,” she admits, and I note that both women tend to answer questions in a plural “we,” as though they’re a package deal.Oakley and I probably do the same thing.
“Don’t worry, Ferris Wheels are statistically very safe, especially permanently constructed ones like this,” I try to reassure her. “Plus, this one is enclosed, so there’s little risk involved.”
“I think I’ll be safe with you,” she adds, squeezing my arm and winking.
Oakley helps Sage step on first, and I follow suit, holding Aspen’s hand as she leaps inside. There’s bench seating on two sides of the private gondola, and she cuddles into me as we sit across from the others.
“I’ve always wanted to kiss someone at thetop of one of these,” Sage announces while looking at Aspen, and they laugh at her not-so-subtle suggestion before she turns to face Oak.
“I think that can be arranged,” he promises with a wink, putting his arm around her.
When we’re at the top, he leans in for a kiss, and Aspen laughs at their cheesy display. I’m glad she isn’t putting me on the spot like that, and her warm smile gives me hope that this could continue, that the four of us might just make something work.
“I don’t want to overstep by suggesting this, but I had a fantastic time tonight and would love to do it again,” Oak says when we’re finally back in the lobby of our building.
“So would I,” I quickly add, smiling at Aspen.
The girls exchange smirks and nod.
“Do you want tonight to be over already?” Sage asks Oakley coyly.
“Well, I didn’t want to assume anything,” he answers with his own grin.
“Come on, show us your place,” Aspen says as she leads me into the waiting elevator.
When we’re back in our apartment, we give the girls a quick tour, but it isn’t long before Sage and Oakley excuse themselves to his room, already making out before his door is fully closed.
