Page 28 of The Pass
I step back without a response and wave to the rest of the people on the boat. “See you guys later.”
Sydney waves her goodbye and we head down to my smaller boat. She settles back in on the same seat she sat on during the ride up while I untie us and start toward the house.
“I think I drank too much,” she says on a yawn.
“Being on the water all day will take it out of you. I’m sure the alcohol didn’t help.”
“I just need a nap and then I’ll be ready to go out tonight.” She yawns again.
By the time I get us home, Sydney is passed out. I gather all the stuff before waking her.
“Babe, we’re back.”
Her lids are slow to open. She sits up and stretches, arms out to her sides. The movement pushes out her boobs. I glance down at my feet so I don’t give away my thoughts while I lift the cooler onto the dock and then step off the boat. I help her out and we start back.
Either I’m speed walking or she’s slower than normal. I pause to let her catch up.
“Sorry, I’m so tired. I can barely pick my feet up.”
“Ride?”
She grins and I turn my back to her and wait for her to hop on. I carry her piggyback to the house and up the back stairs while dragging the cooler—next level multi-tasking. I leave the cooler on the deck and Sydney hops down.
The awkwardness is back now that we’re in this big house all alone.
“I’m going to shower. Do you need anything?”
She fidgets and bites at the corner of her lip. “No, I think I’ll shower quick too.”
“Cool.” Holy awkward, Batman.
In the shower, I lean a hand against the wall and drop my head to let out a long, frustrated sigh. I hate conflict and drama. Sydney and I have always been able to talk things out. Maybe I haven’t been one hundred percent honest with her, but I’ve sacrificed to keep our friendship. That’s the most important thing. Still is.
Dripping wet, I pad out of the bathroom running a towel over my chest. I dry off quickly to go find Sydney. I don’t want to go to sleep before we’ve cleared the air. I toss the towel and grab shorts from my bag. I’m about to head to her room when I spot a Sydney-sized lump on my bed. Upon further inspection, she’s passed out cold.
I climb into bed beside her. Her long, wet hair has soaked both pillows. Such a pain in the ass. The smile on my face and the lightness in my chest reminds me I don’t mind her brand of pain. It’s a relief to have her here and to know that despite the weirdness today, she still wants to be near me.
* * *
It’sdark out when I wake up. Low music filters from somewhere in the house and Sydney sings along. I find her in the kitchen cooking grilled cheese sandwiches.
“Hey,” she says. “You’re up. Hungry?”
“Yeah, starved actually.”
She points a spatula toward a plate with two sandwiches on it, both cut diagonally.
I take a seat at the counter and watch as she finishes her food and puts it on a plate. I’m working out how to best broach the topic of what I will now forever think of as the greatest kiss of my life. She gets there first.
“About today,” she starts as she takes a seat next to me. “I’m really sorry. I should not have put you in that position. I’d been drinking, not that it’s an excuse, and I guess I just really wanted to prove to everyone that what we have is real. You’re my best friend, Tanner. I never want to do anything to put that in jeopardy.”
I’m waiting for an opening to speak, but she just keeps going. “You just got out of a relationship and I think I’ve been feeling a little lonely and jumped at any opportunity for a spark with someone, even you. Plus, we had our window years ago. If anything was going to happen, that was the time. Not now when we have this great friendship.”
Finally, she goes quiet and takes a deep breath. She said a lot and I’m still wrapping my brain around some of it, but the most important thing I say without hesitation, “You’re my best friend too. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Promise?” She looks more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen her, and I realize just how much I mean to her, too.
I take her hand in mine and gently squeeze her long, delicate fingers. “I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
