“Or she’s good at hiding it.”
“Don’t say that to him. His mind will go crazy, and he'll mess this up again.”
“Again? He didn’t even take the chance to begin with.”
“I’m right here,” I say and wave.
“We know.”
“And I’m not …”
“You are. There is no way I’m letting you not confess your love this time.” Beck grabs his hands over his heart.
“Someone get him out of here. I love Natalie, yes, but just as a friend.”
“Embrace it,” Beck says as if I never said a word. “Falling in love will be the best damn thing that ever happened to you.”
“Maybe so”—I grab my notebook, ready to change the topic—“but not tonight. Not with Natalie. Now, let’s write.”
“Okay, but first.” Beck holds out his arms as if he’s going to stop anyone who tries to touch their keyboard. “Aside from what I just said, we’re all thinking the other same thing, right?”
I lean back, crossing my arms. “You mean how we all want to punch Griffin in the face until he cries?”
It might sound a slight bit childish or intense but fuck that guy.
Beck nods.
“I’m not a fan of violence, but what a dick,” Simon adds.
“Natalie deserves better,” Beck adds, and I can feel him staring. I can feel them all staring,again.
“And now we get back to work,” I say, finally changing the subject successfully.
“And you tell us why you’re just now sharing that you haven’t finished a book in two years.”
Shit. I’d already forgotten I just shared that fact too.
I tell them everything. Graham is the first to speak up.
“I think writing a book with Natalie is genius.”
The guys all nod, and then we all get back at it.
“And then they will fall in love,” Beck adds quickly, and everyone grumbles some sort of an agreement.
It's almost comical how much they’re still wishing Natalie and I will end up together.
Me and Natalie. I let the thought cross my mind briefly.
The thing is, though, I just got my best friend back. Hitting on her or doing anything to risk losing her the way I almost did before is out of the question.
Period.
* * *
“Honey, I’m home,” I jokingly shout as soon as I walk through the door that’s connected to the garage.
“I’m in here!” Natalie shouts. I follow her voice to my office and find her moving furniture around in nothing but one of my oversized shirts. We have yet to get her things from Griffin's house, and she refused to take some of my sister’s things from Lovers.
