Page 106 of The Recovery Coach
“Livy has moved on.I had my chance with her years ago, and I spit on it.I devastated her.I won’t do that again.”
His best friend threw his hands in the air.“I love you, man.And I think the absolute world of you.I swear.But you are dumb as fuck!”
The insult hit a bullseye, and Hazy pressed back, more livid with Lover than he ever had been.In their almost six years of friendship he’d never been tempted to choke this man out.Until that moment.
“Well, what’s your suggestion?You dumped her without a thought last week!”
Their yelling drew the attention of the bar’s few patrons.Before they could yell anymore, the bartender quickly approached the table and asked them to leave.They did so without argument, both embarrassed by their outbursts.
They were quiet as they walked to their cars, and when Hazy reached his, he opened the driver’s side door.Instead of Lover getting into his own car, he knocked on Hazy’s passenger window.Hazy pressed the unlock button.
Inside the car, Lover said, “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
Lover grabbed Hazy’s hand off the steering wheel.Touch was both of their love languages, and they used it to diffuse every tense moment between them.
“I’m going to say some words, and you’re going to listen without interrupting while you remember how much I love you.I refuse to let you guys fuck this up.”
Hazy nodded, and Lover faced the windshield, looking into the distance as he spoke.He used a soft, matter-of-fact tone.Hazy took in every word.
“Olivia and I didn’t end things a week ago.We were never a couple.I asked her out under false pretenses.Olivia didn’t want to go along with my idea.She wanted to keep things simple and easy.But the way you talk about her…” Lover fell back in his seat, a dreamy look on his face.“It’s so beautiful.I loved her before we met because you talked her up so much.And then I saw you together, and it was clear the love went both ways, and she’s so fucking gorgeous and sweet and kind and funny.I wanted that for you.But you treated her like a buddy.Like you didn’t recognize her as a woman.I convinced myself I could force you to see it.Olivia said you’d already broken her heart once, and I don’t know all the details, but it sounds like you two worked it out.”
Hazy interrupted Lover’s spiel.“I would never steal your girl.”
Lover offered him a sheepish smile.“I didn’t expect you to.We had an expiration date.Olivia didn’t want to play games.But I convinced her to give me a month to press your buttons.Then we’d go back to being friends, and I’d never mention romantic feelings between the two of you again.
You did so well, too.I could tell you wanted to complain the whole time.But you didn’t.You put Olivia’s and my happiness above your own.You’re amazing.The best friend a person could ever hope to have.And then Jake came along, and he stole more of her time.You were a sulking mess.I thought you would crack at game night.”
Hazy lost control of his emotions for the second time in as many days.He wiped tears from his face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.“I swear to God I was three seconds from demanding everyone get the fuck out.”
“I wish you would have.But then the road trip came, and you started acting weird.I figured the plan was working, but you started seeing someone else.”
“How upset is Livy?”
“She’s not.She had zero expectations of you and zero hope my plan would work.Her intent is to be friends with you until the end of time.”
Another punch to the stomach.Livy should have expectations of him.Even if they were ‘be a good friend’.He’d been lacking on that front.
“Hey, I have a question,” Lover said.
“Shoot.”
“Why did you start dating someone?”
Heat crept up Hazy’s neck.He cleared his throat.“Livy gets flirty when she gets drunk.Things got a little...out of hand for me.I couldn’t look her in the eye.”Fucking hell, he was a grown man.He could talk about this without blushing.He should be the one teasing other people.
Lover wiggled with joy in his seat.“Fuck yes!You panicked because you noticed Olivia is the hottest woman to ever give you the time of day.When I first saw her, I couldn’t believe you’d never mentioned she was a baddie.Also, when you show people a picture of her, you should probably stop choosing one where she’s dressed as a sexy Sasquatch.”
Hazy wheezed.He loved the sexy Sasquatch picture.“She would love that you called her a baddie.I’m telling her you said that.”
He snorted.“Well, obviously my plan worked.You can thank me later.You’ll have to do some serious groveling after all the years of disinterest you’ve put her through.”
“I can grovel.”
Lover grabbed Hazy by the shoulder and shook him, screaming in delight.“You bet your ass you can!”
“I know what I’m going to do,” Hazy replied.
