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“Deadly.”
“Well, a nice dinner usually works.”
“That seems so… mainstream.”
“It is. I mean, it’s a date, not rocket science.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t know. What does she like? Hold on, will she be a willing participant in this date?”
“It was her idea.”
Axe lets out a whistle. “Make it grand. Do something that makes a statement, that shows her how into her you really are.”
“That’s helpful,” I grunt and jump off the edge of the ring with a roll of my eyes.
THIRTY
I’ve been helping Shar and Xavier pack up her apartment for the last few hours. We’re almost done. I go in search of my best friend and find her sitting on the bed in her mum’s room.
“Oh, Shar.” I wrap my arms around her as tight as I can. And when I pull back to brush her hair away from her face, I see the tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just… I don’t… I don’t think I can do this. How am I meant to do this, Lu?” she sobs. It breaks my bloody heart seeing her like this. Knowing there is nothing I can do to help her.
“It’s okay, Shar. You don’t have to do this room yet. You can leave it all here just like it is. Come back to it later,” I tell her.
“I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I? Moving in with Xavier?” she asks.
“Shar, you already live there. You sleep there every night. Tell me, when was the last time you stayed here?”
“A while ago,” she says.
“Exactly, you’ve just been storing your stuff here. Do you love him? My brother?” I press her.
“More than anything,” she answers without hesitation.
“Well, obvs not more than me, but we don’t have to tell him that. It’ll just hurt his ego.” I laugh, getting a small chuckle out of Shar too. “I can do this for you, if you want,” I offer, my eyes flicking around the room.
“No, I need to do this. I just… I thought I was ready, you know? I didn’t know it would still hurt this much,” she says.
“Shar, I don’t think it’s ever going to stop hurting. But I’ll be here whenever you need me. Always,” I tell her.
“Thank you. I love you, LuLu.” Shar hugs me and kisses my cheek.
“All right, some grumpy old asshole is waiting for his turn.” I nod to my brother who is standing in the doorway like a creeper.
After we have everything, except for her mum’s room packed up, I follow them back to my brother’s place for a late lunch. There’s something about being in Xavier’s apartment that’s comforting. It’s quiet. I think it probably has to do with the fact there aren’t hidden cameras in here and I know I’m not being watched right now. Or at least I think I’m not…
I pull out my phone and send a message.
Me:
What are you doing right now?
Dominic:
Planning the world’s most perfect date. Where are you?
Me:
My brother’s place but I’m sure you already know that.
