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I crouch down to gather the scattered poker chips and cards.
How the fuck do I tell Ben the truth about Emily and me?
Sure, part of me wants his approval; he’s one of my closest friends. Having someone on my side would be great, especially after Chris’s outburst. Yet, another part of me worries about his reaction as well. Ben might think Emily is too young, that I am too old to be with her. Plus, considering the troubles she caused at his parties…I'm not sure how he'll take the news.
I can't help but wonder whether honesty is the best course of action or if it will only complicate an already delicate situation.
“Dude,” Ben continues. “I just saw Emilykissyou.”
Great, I think as I finish picking up all the pieces.I’m not really left with much of a choice now, am I?
Finally, I take a deep breath and turn to Ben, who's focused on helping me.
“Okay, fine,” I start, my voice steady but filled with a hint of nervousness.
Ben looks up, meeting my gaze with a curious expression.
I pause for a moment, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. “There's something I need to tell you,” I begin.
Ben listens attentively as I explain the situation with Emily. I tell him about the growing connection between us and the fear of Chris finding out. As I speak, I can see a mix of surprise and concern in Ben's eyes.
“Wow, Alex,” Ben responds, shaking his head slightly. “I had no idea. That's a lot to deal with, man.”
I nod, grateful for his understanding. “Yeah, it is. But I really care about her, Ben. And I want to make things right.”
Ben pats me on the shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. “Well, you know I've got your back. We'll figure this out together.”
We finish setting up the poker game, the weight of my confession still lingering in the air.
“Don't worry, man,” Ben says. “Everything will work out. Just relax and enjoy the game.”
I appreciate his words of encouragement and try to focus on the cards in front of me. The game begins, and for a while, I let myself get lost in the familiar rhythms of poker. But in the back of my mind, thoughts of Emily still weigh heavily on me.
Suddenly, Ben's phone rings. He stops the game to glance at the caller ID before letting out a sigh.
“It’s business,” Ben explains to me. “Gotta take it.”
“It’s alright,” I tell him as he steps away from our poker game and answers the phone.
“Go for Hawthorne,” he says into the receiver.
I watch him go, and once he's out of earshot, I take a deep breath and lean back in my chair. I want to call Emily to see if she's okay, but I hear Ben's hurrying footsteps approaching.
As Ben returns to our impromptu poker game, he grabs three glasses and pours generous portions of whiskey into them.
Wait, I say.It’s just the two of us.
I look at the trio of glasses, puzzled. “Why three glasses, Ben?”
Ben smirks and points behind me. I turn my head around.
“Chris?” I gasp, too stunned to prevent my jaw from dropping.
He walks toward us, his steps slow and his head hanging low. He doesn't burst into anger nor punch me in the face. Instead, he surprises me by slapping an arm around my back in a friendly gesture. His apology catches me off guard.
“Alex,” he begins, his tone somewhat contrite, “I've been giving this whole situation some thought. I'm still not happy. But… I can see that Emily really likes you.”
I raise an eyebrow at him.
