“But,” he repeats before pausing, straightening in his chair. “If she does have feelings for me, I’m not sure it’ll change my decision. I still want to move on.”
“Wow.” I rest my chin on my knuckles, exactly as he’d done earlier and nod slowly.
“Yep. Wow.” Reed’s voice comes out breathy as he huffs out an incredulous laugh, and I imagine it’s because he doesn’t quite believe it himself. “Anyway, that’s my reason. Is it time for lunch?”
“Wait.” I straighten quickly, throwing a hand up between us. “You’re just going to drop that bomb and move on? Reed, that’s a big decision. Why do you want to know so badly if it’s not going to make a difference?”
I’m genuinely shocked and not at all hiding my reaction. I don’t think he’s thought this through.
“That one’s easy.” He smiles awkwardly, suggesting it’s not that easy at all. “Bria’s changed in the last few months, and while she has every right to be whoever she wants to be, I don’t feel the same about the new version of her. In truth, I’m hoping our little game proves that shedoesn’twant me the way I’ve always wanted her. Maybe then we’d have a fighting chance of getting our friendship back to the place it was before. I miss the old Bria.”
Even when he’s hurting, he finds a way to be nice. I don’t think she’s being “whoever she wants to be.” I think she’s unhappy about no longer having his undivided attention, but it’s not my place to express that. “Again,wow.”
“Profound, I know.” He bites back a smirk but it’s easy to see it’s a cover. “I’m a deep thinker like that.”
Covering my mouth, I try to hide my laughter but it comes through. “I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at your situation.”
“Why? You should be. It’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not. At all. You’d be surprised how often friends fall in love. That’s why there are so many movies about it.”
“True. But they always end happily ever after.”
“And so mightyours. Don’t close yourself off for that yet. Let’s wait and see.” I’m smiling reassuringly but as I say those words, a niggling feeling settles around my middle.
“Okay, wise one,” Reed continues, unaware of my inner thoughts. “Let’s wait and see.”
Smiling again, he moves the conversation back to lunch but I cut him off. “We haven’t worked hard enough for lunch. We still have to decide how this is all going to work. Thoughts?”
“Fucked if I know. I don’t know the first thing about being in a relationship. I’m guessing there will be public displays of affection.”
I nod.
“And kissing?” He looks positively terrified at the prospect of that, and I laugh out loud.
“We can work up to it, if we need it. Not all couples are that openly coupley.” Despite welcoming the opportunity to maul him, I could easily make Reed the centre of my world without his lips ever touching mine. It’s better to set those boundaries.
“Okay. Yes.” Reed nods. “That works for me. Do we need ground rules?”
“Probably. I do prefer winging it, but if I’m looking at this like an acting gig, then yes, that’s for the best.”
“Cool. Cool. What’s number one?”
I blurt out the first thing that pops into my head. “Don't fall in love with me.”
Reed snorts as his shoulders bounce. “I bet you got that straight out of a movie, didn’t you?”
“Sure did.” I nod before thinking about that for a second. “Or maybe a book; I can’t remember.”
“Well, it makes sense. It can go on the list, but right back at you.”
“Deal.” I hold out my hand for him to shake and he leans forward, shaking it with a laugh before moving on.
“Two…we need to be upfront and honest with each other. At all times.”
“Agreed.” I nod vigorously until a sharp pang hits me in the gut. I’m mostly honest, and he doesn't need to know all my insecurities when it doesn’t affect us. “That comes back to the trust thing and leads to number three. If one of us wants out, we agree to fake an amicable breakup and end it.”
“Of course. That’s a given. We’re trying to help each other, not make life worse.”
