Page 150 of The Friend Scheme
So you want me to be your beard? Lol.
I mean, yeah? Is that okay?
It’s totally fine dude… what are friends for?
What are friends for?There’s so much I can pull from her saying that.
First, that we’re actually friends now. Which is pretty amazing. Also, that she’s willing to cover for me to my dad, the head ofthe Miller empire. I don’t want to underappreciate how massive that is.
She’s a true friend.
When Dad, Luke, and I reach Jimmy’s, I’m actually less nervous than I expected I’d be when we left the house. I don’t think Cassidy is going to stab me in the back. The bad part about that, though, is it leaves some mental space to think about Jason.
And I really don’t want to do that right now.
I can just see Sunshine Diner in the distance.
I picture us eating waffle fries and talking about video games. It was maybe the best night of my life. I keep thinking that, even though I know the whole truth now. I still don’t even know how deliberate he was. Was he just acting like that, so I’d befriend him? How much did I actually get to know him?
Dad gets out of the car, and so does Luke. I take a second to breathe in and out, and then I step out, too.
Time to face the music.
Inside the bar, I see Cassidy is already here, with her mom, Suzanne.
Maybe Ishouldbe worried. Now my nerves surge. If Cassidy decides, she could ruin me.
Dad approaches Cassidy and Suzanne, who are seated at a booth.
“Can I have a word?” he asks.
Suzanne nods, and the pair go upstairs.
Luke and I sit down in Cassidy’s booth.
I want to make sure she told her mom that we were hanging out earlier, but Luke is right here.
It’s kind of awkward.
“So, Cass,” says Luke. “I heard you two were…”
He makes the sexual finger gesture.
“Are you jealous?” she asks.
“Pfft, no. I ended things withyou, remember?”
“Oh, sweetie, it’s so cute that you think that.” She pats him on the cheek. “Come on, Matt, let’s get a drink, in private.”
I mouth the word “sorry” to Luke, and then follow Cassidy across the bar. A lot of people watch us. A few guys even nod approvingly at me. I feel like Little Matty has finally stepped up and finally done good.
In their eyes, anyway.
Success is so often defined by heterosexual life-goal posts. Get a girlfriend, get married, have kids, etc.…
I hate that.
We sit down in a quiet section of the bar.
