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“James was always busy doing other shit,” he argued defensively. “I didn’t want her to feel abandoned when she was over.”
“Look, I’m not defending him on that part. He definitely dropped the ball on his relationship with Hannah while going through law school. I’m just saying, I noticed there was some chemistry between you guys.” Blake lifted a shoulder and laughed. “I just didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to act on it.”
“I kind of want to punch that cocky smile off your face.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you.” Blake’s grin widened. “Truth’s a bitch, ain’t it?”
It sure as hell was.
“Look, you haven’t slept with her yet. Not much damage done. Just keep it in your pants.”
“She only has one bedroom.”
“So, crash on her couch. It’s a no-brainer.”
He thought back to that moment when she’d made it clear what she wanted from him. Somewhat shy, but wonderfully confident, as she’d stared at him from beneath her lashes.
Let’s not even pretend you’re going to sleep on the couch. You’re going to sleep with me. In my bed.
God, could he even roll this all back? Sleep on the couch and keep his hands off her? Would she hate him for it?
“Anyway, that’s my advice. Keep her safe, but keep your hands off.” Blake sighed.
“And what’s your advice if I can’t do that? If I can’t walk away from what we have.” He knew the answer, but he needed to hear it from his friend to cement it into his brain.
Blake nodded, thinking about it for a moment.
“Then you need to ask yourself... is Hannah worth it? Losing your friendship with James over her? Because you need to come clean with him and let him know what’s going on.”
Eric’s stomach sank and a heaviness invaded every inch of his body.
“It sounds like it’s not going to be easy either way. I’m sorry, bro.” Blake lifted his beer in a silent, apologetic toast. “But for the record, we never had this lunch or conversation. When I see all you guys at our wedding this weekend, I know nothing. I’m staying out of it from this point forward.”
The wedding this weekend. They’d all be there. All his old fraternity brothers who’d left the frat early and got a house together. James, Blake, Jack.
Brothers wasn’t just a light term—that’s what these guys were like to him. The last year had seen them drifting apart physically, with Blake getting his own apartment. Then Jack had left to move in with a girlfriend.
Now it was just Eric and James in the house. And, if he were honest, Eric knew their days were numbered as roommates due to the rent going up and having fewer guys to pay a share.
And like it or not, Hannah and James were going to come face-to-face this weekend. And Eric was going to have to sit on the sideline and act like everything was normal.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just being smothered by a million different thoughts,” Eric muttered, finally digging into his lunch.
“Smothered like a motherfuckin’ burrito.” Blake grinned and took another bite of his burger. “I don’t envy your situation, bro.”
“Yeah. And thanks for the advice.” Eric shook his head. “I may not like it, but I definitely needed to hear it.”
*
“Hello, Miss Jeong.”
Hannah was halfway through lesson planning for the next day when she heard the soft voice at her classroom door.
Her breath locked in her throat and she clenched her fingers around the pen in her hand as she would a weapon.
“Do you mind if I come in?”
Without waiting for an answer, Stoddard Wentworth stepped into her classroom and shut the door.
