He glances over his shoulder at where Jade is sitting with Brian.
“I’ve noticed what I thought was chemistry between the two of you in the past. Now you’re living together… I’m a romance nerd. It’s kind of my thing. And besties living together when there’s chemistry or tension? Usually leads to fucking.”
I choke on my drink. “Fuck, man.”
“Is that what you two are doing?”
His smile is so effortlessly charming it makes me laugh. We’re a lot alike. He’s less cocky and more of a golden retriever… then again, maybe I’m one too. I like to make people happy.
“Is there a bet going on in the friend group?” I ask. “Because if there is, I’m not telling you shit.”
“Shockingly, no. Everyone has been too wrapped up in their own stories.”
“Not too wrapped up to have opinions.”
He snorts at that. “When is anyone in this group short on opinions?”
“Fair point.” Now I look over my shoulder, but Jade might as well not be there. My eyes narrow in on Brian, and my heart flutters. I’m about to tell Justin that there’s no fucking happening—and maybe admit to him that I might want to—when the rest of his words process in my mind.Tension and chemistry.
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been paranoid. Thinking there was no way Brian had feelings for me. I’ve never noticed anything more than our friendship. But if the man who loves romance more than I do sees something, maybe there’s something to see.
“What did you mean by tension? Chemistry? I, uh, hadn’t noticed that.”
Justin tilts his head and smiles at me, a very knowing smile. Probably because that sentence gave some things away.
“You want there to be chemistry there?”
Fuck it all. I down the rest of my beer and turn slightly on my stool, meeting his eyes. “Yes, I do. Because it means I might actually have a chance with him.”
His eyes go wide, his smile grows, and he looks like he might jump out of his skin in excitement.
“I just want you to know that out of respect for you and not wanting to draw attention to you, I’m not throwing my hand up in a fist pump even though I want to.”
“You sure there’s no bet happening?”
“No. I’m just excited I was right. When I first asked Hallie, she said she saw it more from Brian’s side, but I always saw it from you.”
I clear my throat. “Saw what, exactly?”
“This deep desire. Like you’d do anything to make him happy. Anything to take his pain. I get that because it’s how I feel about Jade.”
I blink at him. “We should’ve had this conversation sooner. It might’ve helped me figure out that those weren’t normal friendship feelings. I care deeply for my friends, but with Brian it’s?—”
“Different?”
“Yeah. But you said you saw it from me, not him. How is that tension?”
“It started out with just seeing it from you, but the more I paid attention, the more I realized Hallie was right, and Brian looked longingly at you. Both of you always seemed to miss the other’s looks. But it’s become more obvious lately.”
“Not to us. Clearly.”
Does Brian really have feelings for me too?
Could this actually happen?
“How do you tell your best friend you’ve caught feelings for them?”
He chuckles. “You might want to ask Kennedy and Devon about that. You’re already living together, so that’s a step ahead of where they were. Though, Devon made up a convenient story, so she’d sleep in his room. You could mess up something in your room so you have to sleep in his? Or you could do what Kend and Dev did and tease each other. Catch each othersingingin the shower.”
