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Five years earlier- Eighteen years old
“Dude, you look like shit.” I look across the lunch table where Sebastian is picking at his food and trying his best not to look like his world didn’t just end.
Lunch period is almost over, and all our other friends have already left the cafeteria to head to their next class. Meanwhile, Sebastian is still sitting in the same place having not actually eaten one thing on his plate.
“Well, then it reflects how I feel,” he grumbles, pushing the still full tray of food away from him as he leans back in his chair.
“Why don’t you just talk to her?” I ask, still not fully understanding why he recently ended things with his girlfriend, Tess.
Those two have been joined at the hip for nearly a year, and then all of sudden they’re over. And let me just tell you, he’s been an absolute fucking bear the last two weeks since everything went down.
“Why don’t you?” he bites, turning the tables on me and the fact that I too, recently broke up with my girlfriend, though my reasoning was completely different.
“I have nothing left to say to Courtney. Things weren’t going anywhere for us, I told her as much. But you and Tess, dude, you were a forever thing.”
I glance over my shoulder where Court, Tess, and Bree are currently grouped together, talking quietly amongst themselves. I hate that my gaze is immediately drawn to Bree, but I can’t help it. That girl has consumed my thoughts more over the last six months than I would ever admit to anyone.
“Forever,” Sebastian snorts, pulling my attention back to him. “Forever is a fucking long time for a girl I’ve only known a year.” I can tell even he doesn’t believe his words, but he says them anyway.
Typical Sebastian. Always putting on this front like he’s untouchable.
“Whatever, man. We both know you’re full of it right now. I get that some shit went down between the two of you, but you just need to man up and fucking face it. Or let it go and get the fuck over it because this shit is pathetic.”
I realize I’m being harsh, but Sebastian knows I just want what’s best for him. Lord knows I’m the only one who will just tell him like it fucking is.
“I’ve let it go.” He gives me an angry glare across the table. “Now can we please talk about something else?” He crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Did you tell her it was Bree?” It takes me a second to realize what he’s asking me.
“Did I tell her what was Bree?”
“The girl you have feelings for—does Courtney know you broke up with her because you have a thing for one of her best friends? Her very pregnant best friend.”
“What the hell are you talking about, man?” I try to play stupid, but clearly, I’m a hell of a lot more transparent than I realized.
“I’ve known you since we were in diapers. Do you really think I can’t tell when you’re digging someone?” He shakes his head at me. “So what’s your play?” he continues when I don’t comment.
“What do you mean?”
“You broke up with Court. Are you planning on moving in on Bree? I gotta say, man, I don’t think she’d go for it. Even if she is into you too, she’d never fuck with Court like that. You know those three are as close as friends can be. Not to mention, Bree’s about to pop with another man’s child. You don’t want to put yourself in the middle of that fucking mess.”
“I’m not moving in on anyone.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Then why end things with Courtney if you have no intentions of pursuing the girl you broke up with her for?”
“Because my heart wasn’t fucking in it, and I didn’t feel right stringing her along,” I grind out.
“You’ve been stringing her along for months, now you care?”
I try to swallow down the anger his statement boils in my chest, but I do a shit job of it.
“I haven’t been stringing her along, asshole,” I bite, even though deep down I know he’s right; even if that was never my intention.
“Kind of looks like you have.”
“I care about Courtney, and for a while, I was pretty into her. But I don’t know. There’s just something about Bree, this weird connection we have. The more time I spent with her, the less time I wanted to spend with Courtney.”
“You realize how fucked up that sounds, right?”
“Trust me, I do. But I never acted on anything. I never cheated on Court. I feel like I did right by her when I ended things. And no, before you ask, I’m not going to tell Bree how I feel. Besides, like you said, she’d never go for it anyway. Not to mention, I wouldn’t want to hurt Court like that. I don’t know, dude.” I blow out a loud breath. “I just need to get the fuck out of here.”
