“I’m hurt because you lied. You got involved and pushed them all away when I didn’t ask you to! And why? Because you loved me?”
“Yes.”
“Not good enough, Noah,” A tear slips out the corner of her eye but she’s quick to swat it away, “In all the years we have been friends, and all the shit we have been through both together and apart, I never thought you would be the one to hurt me the most.”
My heart does a painful thud inside my chest, splitting me open.
“I don’t care about the failed dates. I don’t care about the what ifs. I care that you betrayed me and lied. Instead of telling me how you felt, you inserted yourself into my love life to make sure I was spiraling in that pain too.”
“You never told me how you felt either.”
“No, you’re right,” She wipes another tear, “But I didn’t try and hurt your prospects. Whenever you were with someone else, I cheered you on. And yeah, it hurt to watch you be happy with someone else, but as long as you were happy, then so was I. You were my best friend, and I wanted you to have the world. I was just happy to be a part of it.”
“You are the world to me, Sid.”
“I need to leave, Noah.” She pulls out of my grip and steps back, the space between us opening, cracking and splitting with no bridge to get across it.
“Please, Sidney.” I beg, “Cricket, please.”
“Don’t follow me.” She wraps her arms around herself, turning to leave but pauses, “Oh, by the way, Lauren is in love with you. Might want to let her know that you don’t feel the same.”
“Lauren? What does she have to do with this?”
“How do you think I found out, Noah?” Sid laughs without humor and then turns and leaves and all I can do is watch her walk away.
Fuck!
She steps up to the sidewalk and hails down a cab.
With one glance back at me, the pain of what I did written all over her face, she climbs into the cab and drives away. My head drops as the thing inside my chest that has always belonged to her shatters into a million pieces.
She’s right. In all the times I tried to find someone else, she gave me nothing but support. She cheered me on and I did the opposite of that.
I am not a good man.
I am not a good friend.
My steps are full of lead as I head back up the stairs. I need to speak with the valet to get my car brought up. The last thing I want is to stay here without her.
“Noah?” Lauren’s voice sounds to the left just before her hand touches my forearm. Cold washes through me as I turn to my assistant, Isaac behind her barely paying any attention.
“You’re fired.” My voice is low, but the words are harsh.
She snatches her hand back, “Excuse me?”
“Pack your shit up on Monday and then security will escort you off the premises.”
“Why are you firing me?” She blinks in shock.
“I could have let your little crush slide,” I sneer, “But you went too far.”
“I didn’t realize it was a secret.” I smell the bullshit a mile off.
“You’re fired. Maybe you should ask your date for a job. I’m sure he’ll be willing to accommodate. He always did like going after the shit I had.”
“Hey now,” Isaac huffs, “What did I do?”
“You can’t fire me,” Lauren snaps, “I did you a favor! She was only using you, Noah!”
