Page 105 of That Friendzone Feeling

Screwthis.Ican’t be wishy washy—he deserves clarity.AndIdeserve to stand up for whatIdon’t want, as much as whatIdo want.

“Ithink this should be purely a business meeting.Nota date.”Ido my best to sound kind, but certain. “I’mlooking forward to us working with you and to us being friends.Justno dating.”

“Oh.”Hesounds surprised and slightly disappointed.

“Ithought maybeWalkercould join us and he could tell you about the new beer he’s working on to mark the opening of the resort.AndI’dlike to involve ourPRguy,Sterling.He’sworking on some publicity ideas and could go over them to see if you’d be interested in taking part.”

“Sure,” he says. “Sure.Yes.That’sall totally fine.Yes.Wecan make it a business meeting.”Hepauses for a second. “Probablybest.”

Ilet myself relax.IntypicalChasestyle he’s taking it well, being gracious and not making it too awkward.

“Great.Letme know when you’ll be available, and maybe we can meet at theBrooklynpub this time so you can check out that one too.Welured the chef there from aMichelin-starred restaurant.I’llget him to make something special for us all.”

“Thatsounds amazing.I’mnot sure which nightI’llbe available.”Hetakes a breath. “Andnow that we’ve spoken, you’ve made me think.”

Oh, shit.Isthis where it goes horribly wrong? “Isthere a problem?”

“Oh, no.No.Notat all.Just…”There’sthe sound of him… sucking his lip? “Rememberme telling you about the high school girlfriend who shattered my heart and still rattles around my head fifteen years later?”

“Youmentionedyou were hurt, yes.”

“Well,I’vebeen wondering whetherIshould look her up.Maybethis is the kick in the assIneed to do it.”

That’sa relief on all levels. “Agood friend, someoneIadmire very much, told me life’s too short to not at least try to go for the things that fill your heart and your soul and make you happy.”Mymind flashes back to the desperate hurt onWalker’sface as he walked out the door.

“Well, that friend sounds very wise.”

Ismile to myself. “Yes, he’s that too.”

“Okay, then,”Chasesays, super upbeat and full of renewed enthusiasm. “I’llfigure out my schedule and let you know about next week.AndI’lllook forward to meeting with you,Walker, andSterling.”

“That’sgreat,Chase.Thankyou for being so understanding.”

Wesay our goodbyes and hang up.

Idrop my head back on the headrest, close my eyes, fill my lungs, and blow out a long, slow breath.

WhenIopen my eyes, the woman and her three sons from the lane next to mine have walked out ofKingPinsand are heading toward a car.They’relaughing and enjoying each other like a real family.LikeWalker’sfamily does.

Andlike mine never will.

Walker’sright.Ineed to stop wasting so much energy and angst and heartache on trying to make my relationship with my parents something it will never be.

Itwon’t be easy to give up on somethingI’vespent almost my whole life trying to fix, but if he can start trying to let go of blaming himself for his parents’ death and of feeling like he andTominflicted too much financial hardship onMaggieandJim,Isure as hell cantry to do this.

Right.Nowto work on shaking offSensibleEmilyand figure out how to step into the biggest risk of my life.

Ipick my phone out of my lap and callLeon.

“Hey, boss.”Hisrelentless cheer is always infectious.

“I’mon my way into the office.Doyou have some time later?I’dlike to talk about the plans forValentine’snight after all.”

30

One week later

WALKER