Page 78 of The Friend Scheme
“It’s true,” he finally says. “Nice work.”
I’m stumped for a second. He shrugs.
“I knew you’d figure it out; you’re too smart not to.”
“What?”
Of all the ways I pictured this confrontation going down, I never imagined this.
“I dunno, man. I mean, I figured me being so cagey about my last name would make it obvious. But, like, for the record, I gave up on that plan, like, the moment I had dinner with you. I might’ve met you because of the scheme, but after that, our friendship has been real.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I liked you too much to hurt you like that. I decided pretty early on I wasn’t going to go through with it.”
“What about your family?” I ask. “Even if you gave up on it, they’d still want you to do it, right?”
“They think you’re just really good at dodging the questions I’ve asked you. But that’s not what I’m doing, I promise. Anything I’ve asked you is because I genuinely want to get to know you.”
“What are you saying?” I ask.
“I’m saying that this is more than that. It’s real.”
“I…”
“Come on,” he says. “Don’t you feel it? We have a connection. I’ve never felt anything like it before. I think you might be my best friend.”
“I feel it, too. Of course I do. But… it’s like, if you are who I think you are, we shouldn’t be friends, right?”
“Says who?”
“Our families. They hate each other.”
“They do,” he says.
“And you only wanted to get to know me just so you could tell them my secrets.”
He rubs the nape of his neck.
“Yeah, but only for, like, five minutes. I’m telling you, I bailed on that plan as soon as I realized how much I could like you. Which happened pretty fast. I just… I feel so connected to you. It’s true what I said before. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt. We just click, you know?”
That’s sweet and all, but…
“How can I trust you?” I ask.
“You probably shouldn’t. But I’d like it if you did.”
“You’re… you’re a lot, you know that?”
He grins. “That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard all week.”
Infuriatingly, him saying that drives me pretty wild.
“So you aren’t going to drop me?” he asks. “Seriously, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I don’t know. I honestly didn’t know what to expect after telling you, but it wasn’t this.”
“I’m glad. I’m not a threat to you, I promise. You are to me, though. Have you told anyone else about me?”
