Love after loss

Chapter 3 - The confession

The next 2 months passed in a blur of laughter, flirting and hard work.

Meg was right. We had become the bestest friends and great roommates. 

It was Wednesday night which we both had off every week and we made our way toward the bowling alley for a few games and a few drinks.

“When are you going to put one of them out of their misery”

“What are you talking about”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about! Derek and Garret follow after you like lost puppy’s, only you know smoking hot puppy’s on heat”

I laughed at her analogy

“You’re crazy, they flirt with everyone”

“You’re right but they don’t consistently ask everyone out on dates only to be turned down.. every time”

“They’re my bosses!! And I’m pretty sure they aren’t serious about those dates!”

We spent the next few hours bowling and gossiping and analysing all the texts sent between Meg and cheryl, the girl she likes until it was time to head home. 

By the time we entered The Roadhouse the place had cleared out and Derek and Garret were getting ready to close down. Usually there would be banter and laughing as the two men closed together but it was quiet and there was a weird tension in the air. We said our goodnights quickly and made our way up to the apartment. 

“I wonder what’s going on with them” I thought out loud

“Whatever Elle, you’ve dodged the question enough for one night, just tell me who you’d pick” Meg demanded flopping down onto my bed to watch a movie.

I sighed, we were back to the great Derek/Garret debate then. “Fine” I relented “But this purely hypothetical and it doesn’t leave this room” I held up my pinky finger towards her.

“You are such a dork Montague” Meg giggled while grasping my outstretched pinky finger into her own

“Garret” I admitted, quickly throwing my hands up to cover my embarrassment 

“What! Really!?”

“Yes! Like every other person with eyes, I am perfectly aware that Derek is probably a descendant of some Greek god because the man is clearly an Adonis. But honestly? I just click with Garret, he makes me laugh and I find myself drawn to him. So if I had a choice, which I do not because this conversation is not happening. It would be Garret” 

“I knew it” Meg said confidently whilst  shoving popcorn into her mouth.

“Yeah right! If you knew it why’d you look so surprised huh” I nudged her with my elbow.

“Oh please! It’s pretty obvious, you two are always looking at each other all dreamy eyed” she scoffed

“What! We do not, there are no dreamy eyes here, nope just boring eyes, boring awake eyes. British people aren’t romantic, I thought that was common knowledge. We just all walk around straight faced and proper. You Americans are too sappy”

“God you’re talking too fast” she teased but suddenly put a hand on my arm giving me a soft smile “Hey Elle, maybe the next time one of them asks you out, you should say yes. You never know what might happen”

*Downstairs*

‘Okay. I can do this. End the bet. Tell him I’m falling for Elle for real’ Garret thought giving himself a shake to psych himself up to admitting his feelings to his best friend.

“Hey Garret I need to talk to you about something” Dereks voice pulled him out of his thoughts

“Sure what’s up”

“... the thing is.. look I er.. I’m really starting to like Elle, I wanna ask her out and it be real. The bet has to end”

Ouch. All Garret could do was nod for a minute before composing himself and forcing a smile trying to look indifferent. 

“No problem man, I hope it works out for you” he lied.

“You sure you’re okay with this” Derek asked

“Absolutely”

Nope. “Honestly, you’d be great together”

Garret tried desperately to hide the aching disappointment from showing on his face.

The next day as I ran through the park with Garret on our usual early morning jog. Things were weird. He had barely said two words to me and when he did It was short, which definitely wasn’t like him.

I finally had enough of the cold shoulder so I caught hold of his arm and stopped us both in our tracks.

“What’s going on?” I asked

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” he answered without meeting my gaze.

“I don’t believe you, usually on our runs I can’t shut you up and I’d have already deflected several attempts to ask me out” 

“Yeah, well, maybe I’m just happy being your friend” he smiled but his voice sounded sad.

“And you’re sure there’s nothing wrong?” I asked cupping his cheek in my hand “because you sound upset”

He placed his hand over mine on his face. “Elle, don’t worry about me. Your happiness and seeing your smile, that’s enough for me” 

“Now come on” he gave me a slight push forward and we continued on our way.