AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nope. No arguing,” she says, grabbing the supplies from my hands and shoving them back into the bag. “We’re going to the club this weekend. It’s already arranged.”
I jolt at her announcement. “We’re what?”
“You heard me. We’re going to The Playground this weekend.”
Back to the scene of the crime.
If you can call falling in love a crime.
Is that what this was? Love? Is that why it hurts so badly?
"Look, babe, it's Memorial Day weekend. It's been over two months and you've barely left your room. I'm so happy to have you here. I've loved seeing you every day and spending time cuddling with you and Beef Cake on the couch . . . well, when you come out of your room. But nothing has changed since you moved in. Plus, you've been glued to your phone like it's the only thing keeping you alive lately. I'm smart enough to know that you're not only reading smut on that thing. You type louder than anyone I know. So, I know you're talking to someone."
I glance to where my phone sits on the counter, just as it goes off with another notification showing Alvie's name on my screen.
"You bitch!" she shrieks. "You’ve been talking to them and you didn’t tell me!"
"Not them. Bex said she wants nothing to do with me. It's just Alvie," I say quietly. "He's been checking in on me."
She raises her eyebrow, snatches up my phone, and waltzes back into the bedroom, plopping herself down on the mattress next to where Beef Cake is sleeping peacefully, or at least he was.
"Ugh. Withholding information like this is a violation of the bestie code, Nay. I mean… I knew, Alvie texted me. But you’re still on my shit list for now." Her words are harsh, but her tone is still playful. "Now, tell me everything. Don't you dare leave anything out."
I collapse on the bed beside her and within seconds, Beef Cake is crawling onto my chest and pawing at me for cuddles and pets. The massive orange Maine coon is the most affectionate cat I've ever met and has been a solid companion through my entire, evidently, two-month depression.
He's easily the chillest cat ever. Just very needy.
I stroke his soft fur, gathering my courage to speak.
"He started sending me photos after he got out of the hospital. Then we eventually started talking about things," I begin.
"About what happened with Bex?"
"No," I say quickly. "Never that."
"Good. That's smart."
"What? Why?"
"Because you and Bex need to work that out yourself. It's okay to be forming a relationship with Alvie outside of her, you know."
I turn my head away from the ceiling to look at her.
"Is that what this is? A relationship?"
"Cariña, you grin at your phone like a cat who got the cream when he texts." She sighs and lies back on the bed with me. "At the very least, you have a crush on him. But I'm gonna call this like it is. You're solidly in the talking stage with Alvie."
I look back up at the ceiling.
"What does that mean for us though. Bex won't even talk to me, and here I am, talking behind her back with her husband?" I sigh.
"Have you ever talked with them about their relationship dynamic?"
"Not really."
"Then you should have that conversation with Alvie." She looks over at me. "You're not doing anything wrong here. Is it complicated? Yes. But you're not doing anything wrong by being his friend."
"And what if it's not just as friends?"
