Friends and Marriage

Chapter 4

"Do you know what you missed while you were at work yesterday?!" Tana started as soon as she took off her shoes at Irina's door.

"No, what did I miss? I am pretty sure you could have texted."

Tana shook her head. "No, not with this piece of information. Nope."

"Why?"

"Well, for starters, I wanted to see the look on your face when I told you why Bruno came back."

Irina made a noise that Tana assumed meant she was listening. Trust Irina to be a little distracted by work. This was not the first time, and it probably would not be her last. Tana knew Irina like the back of her hand.

"So... Bruno needs a wife."

"Yeah, he does, he is in his 30s now. I am surprised he lasted this long without meeting someone," Irina said as she sorted through a few documents on her desk. "Must have been stressful for him too..."

Tana laughed, remembering how Irina had been laying her head in his lap, waiting for his gentle hands and fingers to caress her hair and scalp. She might as well just be his wife. She was already content laying there next to him.

"It is stressful for him," Tana said, remembering how he clutched the mug as he sipped from it... like it was saving his life or something.

Or something.

"He is easy on the eyes. Perhaps one of the ladies in that group we met the other day can become his girlfriend and wife... why does he need a wife though?" Irina asked as she started to look through her documents and switch between them and her computer screen.

"Well, Bruno's new business venture needs a feminine touch," Tana responded, and looked at Irina again.

"Not interior design again?!" She asked, finally looking up and almost shuddering at the thought. It was one thing that she had nightmares about - art and design. Irina's creativity was better spent on numbers, not lights and colours and decor... she couldn't see how Tana and Bruno did.

"Nope. That company is doing really well, but he is looking to open a new business venture, and has a work partner with him. However, the banks will only loan them money if they have wives."

"Okay, so the banks are prejudiced towards men... interesting," Irina sighed and picked up her documents. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I was... still am," Tana said, and Irina eyed her, knowing full well the struggles Tana had endured trying to source funding from those institutions as well.

"Is that all?"

Tana rolled her eyes and Irina stuck out her tongue in reply. "No it isn't."

"Do you mean we play a part in this story? Are we going to interview his possible wife... like we did his dates the other time? I can't," Irina declined.

Tana saw her chance and risked it. "Would you like to be his wife?" Her question had the desired effect. Irina went stiff, and her eyes were trained on her, wide in shock.

It took a few seconds before Irina managed a response, her eyes darting and her voice squeaky. "What?! Why?! Who? Me? Never!"

Tana burst out laughing. This conversation was worth it. Irina was squirming, unable to maintain eye contact. Between them, it was an open secret that they had crushed on him multiple times. However, Irina was the one who clearly developed romantic feelings for Bruno. They were much deeper than she cared to admit.

Tana knew she wouldn't mind making out with a cutie like him, but she definitely would not go any further. She couldn't say the same for Irina. Despite being cold and dismissive, she was like boiling hot lava when it came to Bruno. She had been falling a little bit since they first met.

Irina wanted Bruno, but worried the dynamics would still change. Tana could tell that was what Irina feared, especially as she had become very attached to him in the recent months. It was almost as if she wanted to take that step, but was afraid that if she did, she could never be just his friend again.

Tana knew Bruno would still want them to be friends. Yes, the dynamics would change, but she knew that it would still work. Bruno had always jokingly called them his wives. It was obvious why he would ask them to vet his dates: he loved them, and wanted to involve them in everything he did.

So even if Irina acted on her feelings, Tana knew that she would have taken a huge step forward. Literally a leap of faith. Bruno would meet her in the middle. He was a reasonable young man. Especially now that he needed help from both of them.

"Why not Irina? He's good looking, isn't he?" Irina gulped, choosing not to answer. She didn't trust her mouth, as she would probably spill her feelings for him to her best friend. Was that okay?

"Umm... he's... he's... he's Bruno."

"Yes, he's Bruno."

Irina took a deep breath in. "He IS Bruno." She wanted that emphasis to mean something. Tana had recognised the emphasis, but she chose to ignore it. He was Bruno, their one friend. They couldn't let him down. He had always been their best friend. Their Bruno.

"He is OUR Bruno," she replied instead, smiling at Irina. "You are OUR Irina. I am both YOUR Tana."