Love in the Friend Zone

by Molly E. Lee

  “With Donna. Inside.”

  He was alone, but Randy was still at my side. Now was my shot, all I had to do was ask Fynn for a second to talk sans other people around us.

  “Who knew I could dance,” he continued, trying to poke fun at himself. I wanted to say that I did because he’d danced with me—much more innocently—at all my dad’s past weddings. The only plus from my dad getting married so many damn times was the parties, the cake, and always having Fynn as my date. Watching my dad break my mother’s heart, then two other women’s? Not fun at all.

  I remembered the look on number two’s face when she’d come back to my dad’s to pick up some boxes. The bags under her eyes, the hurt creasing her brow, hell, I’d practically tasted the hate when she’d brushed past my dad on her way out. Getting rejected by someone you loved—it destroyed you, turned you to ice.

  Damn, I should just take the easy road and leave Zoey to do whatever she wants.

  “You sure you’re okay?” He took a step closer to me, filling my air with his scent. I resisted the urge to close my eyes and breathe him in one last time. “You’ve been acting different all night,” he whispered.

  Me? You’re the one who left me high and dry for a pretty girl in a short skirt.

  Whoa, I hadn’t realized how mad I was until that second. I sucked in a deep breath, reveling in his scent and nearness a little longer.

  “You want to go for a walk by the lake?” he asked after I had ignored his first question. “Talk about it? Or not, your choice.”

  I chuckled. “What about Katy?”

  He shrugged, glancing toward the house before planting those electric blue eyes on me. “It won’t hurt to play a little hard to get.”

  I pressed my lips together, nodding. Silently, I followed him, my steps in sync with his. The moon now shone huge in the sky, reflecting off the lake water, which rippled from the slight breeze in the air. Sounds from the party—music, convos, squeals—brushed the edges of the lake, but not enough to ruin the peaceful quality of the moment.

  “So…” Fynn dragged out the word, bumping his shoulder with mine. “You want to tell me what’s bothering you?”

  I fiddled with the ends of my shirt as we continued to walk.

  “Is it that guy…Randy?” He said the name through clenched teeth.

  “No.” I stopped walking, crossing my arms over my chest like I could hold my heart together. We were alone, away from the party, and I had two hours till midnight. Now was the perfect time to tell him, but my heart ached like it already knew the crippling rejection that would follow my admission.

  “Bray.” Fynn’s voice was quiet, soft, pleading. It made tears glisten over my eyes even though he hadn’t done a thing wrong. “You’re killing me.”

  Me? If you only knew.

  “You shouldn’t be worrying about me,” I said, stuffing the truth down my throat, right past my already fractured heart. “This is your big night.” I went to playfully smack his chest but he caught my hand and held it against him.

  “Nothing is more important to me than you,” he said, keeping my hand pressed against his firm chest, locked underneath both of his hands. “You’re my best friend, Bray. I can’t relax until I know what has got you in knots.”

  I licked my lips, my blood rushing hot with how he held me, how close he was, how it was just the two of us. I opened and closed my mouth three times. Words were my thing, so why were they failing me now?

  “Is it graduation? College?” Fynn started guessing, and I shook my head. “Did something happen with your dad again?”

  “No.” I sighed, my heart racing with how he wouldn’t stop pushing.

  “Did someone die in the graphic novel you’re reading?” He choked out a laugh. “Give me something, Braylen.”

  I’m in love with you. Choose me. Please.

  He dropped my hand and started pacing the area in front of me, his wound-tight nerves vibrating off him in waves. “I swear to God, if Randy tried anything—”

  “I’m in love with…someone!” I finally blurted out.

  “With Randy?” He froze, his wide eyes locked on to mine.

  I shook my head.

  “Then who?”

  My best friend. “I can’t tell you.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at me as he took a long, slow breath. “You can tell me anything.”

  The hurt in his voice sliced me up even more. “It’s complicated.”

  Raking his fingers through his hair, his brow furrowed. “Have you been with him? I mean, when did this happen? We’re rarely apart…”

  “He doesn’t know I exist.” That was a lie, but Fynn didn’t know this part of me existed so I indulged a bit. Even though he didn’t have a clue I was talking about him, the pressure on my chest loosened a fraction.

  Fynn sighed, placing his hands on my shoulders. “I know a little bit about that.” His eyes roamed up toward the house and I wanted to strangle him. What he felt for Katy was nothing compared to what I felt for him. “The guy is a total moron,” he said, focusing on me.

  I laughed so hard he probably thought I’d lost my mind. To my utter delight, as usual with him, he joined me in my hilarity without needing to be in on the joke.

  “Is he here?” he asked as I swiped tears from the corners of my eyes from laughing so hard.

  “Yeah.”

  “Then he’s not good enough for you.” He swung his arm toward the house. “No one here is.” He cleared his throat, studying his shoes for a moment.

  “You don’t know him like I do,” I said, my voice a whisper.

  He locked eyes with me. “You deserve someone great. Someone who can roll with your fast-tracked, cutting-edge journalist mind. Someone who calms you when your mind splits in forty different directions with all the story ideas storming your brain. Someone who won’t feel threatened by your relationship with Deadpool.” He chuckled, and though I wanted to, I couldn’t because of the air squeezing out of my lungs. The boy was describing himself. How could he be so oblivious? “And,” he continued, glancing at the party, “that guy isn’t here.”

  I wanted to tell him that he was standing right in front of me, but my heart raced so fast with the truth on the tip of my tongue my words got tangled.

  “Come on.” He tugged me under his arm before I could respond. He held me against his side as he guided us back toward the house.

  The closer we got, the louder the sounds of the party became, the more I lost my nerve. I had told him but not really, and I knew for certain I wouldn’t get another moment like this.

  “Fynn.” I stopped us as we neared the pool area. “I need you to know—”

  A massive black dog leaped between Fynn and me, cutting me off.

  “Hendrix.” Fynn chuckled, trying to pry the dog’s paws off his shoulders. “Missed you, too, buddy.” He shoved the dog off, giving him a good butt pat before he raced away.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. Eff my life. Clearly the universe is sending me a million signs not to explain things to him. “Forget it,” I said. “Thanks for the walk.”

  He grinned, swallowing hard. “Word of advice?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t waste your time with Randy if your heart is with someone else.” He motioned behind me, where Randy was slowly approaching. “He’d definitely be jealous of Deadpool.”

  I laughed a sad sort of laugh, and glanced at Randy who eyed me with a question. I nodded, desperate for the exit help.

  “Braylen,” he said after upping his speed to get to us. “Want to go interview Jarred for me to post with the video?”

  Fynn locked his muscles, rooting himself to the spot. He shook his head quickly like he was trying to shake off a thought, and lightly squeezed the back of my arm. “Glad we got to talk,” he said before turning around and losing himself in the crowd of people back inside the house.

  Chills raked across my skin from his touch and they didn’t stop erupting even after I’d followed Randy around t
he front of the house in search for Jarred.

  How could one innocent move from Fynn make me feel like I’d just touched a live wire?

  And how the hell could he not feel it, too?

  Trying to interview Jarred was a bust. He was so drunk I could barely make out a single word he said, but Randy seemed to think what we recorded was perfection. It was a great distraction while it lasted.

  “Let’s play Kings!” Randy shouted as we passed a room where a few people were getting a game set up. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “After the not so fun walk with him, you need some liquid courage.”

  “Sure,” I said, following him inside the room. I’d told him what had gone down with Fynn, or what hadn’t gone down, and he was super sympathetic and optimistic at the same time. He was sure I’d figure it out before midnight, but the clock kept on ticking and so did my nerves. I felt like I’d been run over by a truck, my muscles were so tight with tension. “I’ve never played before,” I admitted as we took a seat around a large, round coffee table. Jenny and Todd had broken for air from their make-out session, Todd shuffling a deck of cards.

  “It’s easy,” Randy said as Jenny placed an unopened can of beer in the center of the circle of facedown cards Todd spread out on the table. “I’ll help you.”

  “We need a couple more people to get a good game going,” Jenny said, craning her head out of the opened door. “Katy! Get your ass over here!” she shouted and my heart plummeted to my stomach.

  Please, no. Ignore her. Ignore her.

  “What are we playing, bitch?” Katy popped her head inside the room, Fynn right behind her.

  Fuck. My. Life!

  Fynn seemed to share my sentiment as his eyes locked onto mine and he hesitated in the entryway.

  “Take a seat,” Todd said, gesturing Fynn to the open space on my left.

  “Kings?” Katy took a seat on the opposite side of Fynn and the circle of hell was complete. Every time I thought I’d be free to fully distract myself from the pair, they popped up like a horrible song I couldn’t get out of my head no matter how hard I tried. Fynn was the delightful melody, while Katy was the annoyingly perfect lyrics you couldn’t forget.

  “You know how to play, Fynny?” she turned to ask him.

  I burst out laughing at her new nickname for him and Randy joined in, but from the look on her face, Katy didn’t get it.

  “Yeah, I think I can handle it.” Fynn nudged me with his knee under the table, successfully sending butterflies flapping through my stomach and ending my laughter. It was incredibly unfair of him to have the power to do that to me, and yet, he was so oblivious of his hold over me.

  “Who wants to kick us off?” Todd asked.

  Katy raised one perfectly polished finger. “I’ll draw first.”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course, she had to be first in everything. She may have apologized and had been halfway decent to me tonight, but it didn’t change that she was used to being the popular girl—always the star of the show.

  She slipped a card out of the pile, her eyes lighting up as she flipped the card so we could all see. “Ace. Drink up, bitches!”

  Randy quickly leaned over, whispering in my ear. “Ace is a waterfall. You have to chug your drink, and can’t stop until the person on your left does.”

  I nodded, bringing my freshly opened bottle to my lips as the others raised their solo cups. One by one we started drinking, and I tried to swallow as slowly as possible. I was not a heavy drinker and had no experience when it came to outlasting another person in a longest drink competition. Katy, on the other hand, must have had a master’s degree in the subject, because she just kept going and going. I suppose she would have to be, having dated Don for so long. I was halfway through my drink when I was about to say screw it and bolt, but Fynn, who sat on my left, quickly lowered his drink.

  Which meant I could stop chugging mine. I set the bottle on the table, sucking in a deep breath and flashing him a look I hoped he knew was a silent thank you.

  He winked at me, and heat flared in my belly. Damn him. Not only was he still acting like the prince I’d always dreamed about, he could hold a conversation with me without ever opening his mouth.

  “Pansy,” Todd said, laughing as he set his drink down. Fynn shrugged. “All right,” Todd continued. “Me next.” He drew a card and showed the rest of us a six of diamonds. “Yes! Chicks drink.”

  Randy leaned over to me again and I couldn’t help but notice Fynn’s eyes on the two of us. “Sixes means chicks drink.”

  “Well, that’s an easy one.” I took a fast sip before resting the bottle against my thigh.

  “You’re up, honey bunny,” Todd said with a grin.

  Jenny gaped at him. “Never call me that again.”

  Fynn and I shared a small chuckle that no one else joined in on. Whoops.

  “Excuse me,” Todd said, raising his hands. “Queen Jenny, would you please do us the honor of drawing your respected card?”

  “Oh,” she said, putting her hand to her chest dramatically. “Now that I like.” She pulled a card and giggled before showing us a Queen of hearts.

  “Questions,” was all that Randy could mutter in my ear before Jenny pointed at me.

  “What’s your favorite band?” she asked and the room fell so silent I wondered what hung in the balance of my answer.

  “Ignited Hearts,” I said without hesitation.

  Jenny and Todd laughed, screaming, drink in unison. Randy hissed at my side, finishing his explanation. “Queens are questions. You have to ask her a question and it goes back and forth until someone trips up and answers.”

  I nodded. Whoops. I raised my bottle, tapping it against Jenny’s cup, and took a drink. “I’m learning, I’m learning,” I said between giggles.

  “Seriously, though. Lennon’s band?” Katy tilted her head. “Do you think he’s in earshot?”

  My mouth dropped open at the accusation. “No, I love his music.”

  “Huh,” Katy pursed her glossed lips, searching my eyes like she was trying to piece together some puzzle.

  She probably thought I said it because I wanted to score tickets to one of his summer shows since he was opening for the BlackHats, but I would totally buy tickets to Ignited Hearts without another band playing. I shrugged, taking a drink despite the game not continuing yet.

  “And I’ll just be drawing the next card,” Randy popped the awkward silence bubble, reaching for a card.

  I sighed when she scooted closer to Fynn, who sat darting glances between the two of us like he didn’t know who he was looking at anymore.

  Randy flipped up a king and fistbumped the air. “Rule! Yes.” He lightly touched my wrist. “King means I get to create a new rule that everyone has to follow until the next king is drawn.”

  “Nice,” I said, moving my hand back to my lap. “What is the new law, King?”

  He arched an eyebrow, the gears cranking behind his eyes as he glanced around the table. “Got it,” he said, rubbing his palms together. “Every time someone draws an odd number—unless it already has a rule—then I get to ask them a truth or dare question.”

  There was a succession of hisses and giggles around the table but we all nodded. Randy motioned to me. “You’re up to draw.”

  Please don’t be an odd number. Please don’t be an odd number.

  My heart raced against my chest as I peeled the card off the table, flipping it over to reveal an effin’ three of clubs.

  The roars of laughter reached an all-time high around me.

  “First victim!” Randy clapped his hands and my cheeks flared. “Braylen. Truth or dare?”

  I swear a rope tightened around my chest as the options taunted me. I figured Randy would go easy on me, but really I’d rather hide in the corner than be the center of attention like I was now. My cheeks were blaring red by the time I answered, “Truth.”

  Katy giggled. “Of course.”

  I ignored her and the way Fynn shifted his weight aw
ay from her in that moment. I couldn’t read into it because I was anxiously awaiting the question I was about to have to answer truthfully.

  Randy smirked after taking a few moments to think about it, and I had a mini-heart attack with the thought that he might force my confession right here and now. “If you found yourself in the zombie apocalypse, who would be the first choice when assembling your crew?”

  A huge sigh left my lips when he showed me mercy.

  “Fynn,” I answered easily and Katy spit the sip of drink she’d just taken back in her cup, giggling so hard the pink liquid nearly came out of her nose.

  Randy smiled. “No, not of like, the people in this room. Out of everyone in the world.”

  I glared at Katy’s laughter, and shrugged at Randy. “Fynn.” I locked eyes with him, and he flashed me a small grin, his blue eyes churning with something I couldn’t read. When everyone laughed at the table, I shook my head. “What?” I chuckled. “You haven’t seen this man during a Walking Dead marathon. He has the best eye for traps, ideas for shelters, and can strategize better than a four-star general.” The boy was my own personal version of Daryl Dixon, except instead of a crossbow he carried a camera. “With the whole world to choose from, there is no one I’d rather face the end of the world with.” I didn’t know if it was the drinks I’d had loosening my tongue or if it was just me running out of fucks to give with everything that had happened at the party tonight, but I didn’t care. Randy asked me a truth question and by God I’d answered truthfully.

  “Stalker alert.” Katy took another drink and another wave of giggles went around the table. I laughed with them this time, but because Fynn was a statue at my side, staring at me like he was trying to understand a foreign film without subtitles.

  “Your turn, Fynn.” I nudged him underneath the table like he had me earlier.

  He blinked a few times before he drew a card. He showed the table a five.

  “Five. Guys drink. You escape the King’s law for now, Fynn!” Randy laughed as he, Todd, and Fynn took a quick drink.

  Fynn swallowed a bit longer than the rest. “You’re up, Katy,” he said after he’d set his drink down.