Page 10 of So Worth More
“Sounds like a plan to me. I’m in.”
Nine - Andy
After clearing the air and finishing up at work, I was reluctant to go home. Seemed that my new “friend” had the same thought, as a text buzzed in my pocket.
Will: Gym? Been a while and it’d make Henry get off my case lol
Andy: Sounds like a plan. 7:30? I’m starving and need to get my stuff
Will: My gym gear is in my car. Wanna get something to eat first? We can swing by your place and pick up whatever you need
Was it too much too soon to be going out for food with Will? I shrugged that thought off. If we started off with me saying no, then we weren’t going to get far at all. Truth be told, the idea of going home and eating alone wasn’t very appealing. I wanted to see the guys. They might not be there, but Henry usually worked on a Thursday evening.
The other classes hadn’t been working out for me, even without mild groin strain. I’d even tried Zumba and was bruised from it. Obviously, I was NOT coordinated enough for that one. The ladies of the class had been lovely, though. There was even the offer of being set up with sons and nephews, which Abby found hilarious.
Andy: I’m in. Dinner sounds good. I have my car though, so I’ll go grab my gym stuff first. Meet at the restaurant?
Will: Meet you at Trixie’s? Half an hour?
Andy: *thumbs up emoji*
***
Any worries that I may have had about it being strained or weird between us rapidly fell away as Will greeted me at the doors of Trixie’s, a diner similar to the one that I often met Abby at. We were seated and had our orders taken quickly, both of us opting for sandwiches and salads rather than anything too heavy before our workout.
Conversation was easy and flowed, so much so that I’d to remind myself that this wasn’t a date. We chatted about the office, projects and stupid little things. Deep down I knew it would take time for Will to truly become my friend, and that I’d have to keep emotional distance. It was this or nothing.
My heart nearly stopped when Will said, “I was planning on leaving Parker’s if you didn’t think we could work together.” He looked sheepish. “Once you’re done with someone, there doesn’t seem to be a way back, so if you were done with me…..well, I think leaving would have been the best idea.”
Sitting, likely gaping at Will, I looked for the words to assure him that I’d have made it work, but he shook his head at me, half-heartedly shrugging his shoulders. “Nah, honestly, I got the idea about moving into my head, and I think if we couldn’t make it work then that would’ve given me an excuse, you know?”
I could only shrug, because even when things were pretty bad and I feared for my safety from my ex, Jason, I never thought about leaving. I dunno what that made me. Probably an idiot, like Jason had said.
“This is good though,” I said after a pause, finally finding my voice. “It might actually make things better at work if we’re on the same page, if we can find more common ground.” He looked hopeful so I continued, “Even when I was really angry at you, I didn’t think about cutting you out of my life. I just needed time to adjust back to what we were before. Honestly, Parker’s wouldn’t be the same without you.” I gave him a genuine smile.
Gratitude lined his face and my heart’s frantic beat eased. There was something about this softer, more open version of Will that was captivating. I wanted to hear all his stories, learn what made him smile, have him trust me with his secrets. Being his friend was going to have to be enough.
***
We walked to the gym from Trixie’s, having left our cars at our apartments. The night was crisp and cool, with the trees that lined the sidewalks starting to show their gorgeous fall colors. In another few weeks, they’d begin shedding their leaves. It was almost fully dark, but it was impossible to see stars with the lights of the city obscuring them.
To begin with, we were silent, just enjoying the walk and the ease between us, but it wasn’t long before we fell into that relaxed banter we had shared during dinner and some of our more memorable hookups. If all nights were as chilled as this, then pushing Will into the dreaded friend zone would be simple. Right?
When we walked into the gym, a huge two-story building converted from an old warehouse, it took a minute to adjust to the bright lighting. The ground floor had kept the oversize doors and hardwood floors, though in the equipment areas they were covered with black and navy thick mats that often muffled the sounds of weights hitting them. Windows on the ground floor were the reflective kind, with the people inside being able to see us in the street while we couldn’t see in.
The barn style doors slid open as we approached, Will jokingly shoving me to go in ahead. I thought that Henry was going to keel over in shock when he glanced up from his computer as we drew near. Laughter burst from me at his expression which Will quickly noted, his own booming laugh joining mine.
Henry scowled at us. “Laugh it up, fellas. We all thought we’d never see you two in the same place ever again. Pete has fifty on it taking a month. Looks like he lost that bet.”
Will chuckled and I poked him in the ribs. “This one was missing me and we made up.”
“Hardly,” Will countered, his voice dry with the hint of a smile playing at his lips. “It just got too quiet, y’know?”
We fell quiet and the air filled with tension, the ease from outside gone. It was always so straight forward with just the two of us. Being around other people meant having to hide and lie. Henry’s glances and grins to the others on that Friday night was the beginning of the end of our arrangement. Standing with us now, he acted as a reminder of why things had to stop. It sat heavy between us for a minute.
As strange as it was, Will and I didn’t really hang out between hookups, not as friends. When we were with the guys it was more like colleagues or acquaintances. More often than not, we didn’t even sit near each other if we went out with them to the bar. It acted as another layer of foreplay.
We’d thought we were being subtle, which was stupid because Henry had probably guessed we were the guys in the shower that someone else had reported having sex. He’d clearly been onto us for a while. Maybe he’d caught the loaded glances and the way Will would brush a finger along the back of my neck to tease me when he walked by. Or how we’d leave within ten minutes of the other leaving, one of us waiting outside or in another bar down the street.
