Page 76 of That Friendzone Feeling

“Nah,”Connorsays. “Ithink she looks nervous and he’s trying to put her at ease.”

“We’regoing to have to get to the bottom of who this mystery brunette is,” the reporter says. “They’reheading our way, so let’s find out.”

Ilook up at the screen as someone with a clipboard leadsChaseandEmilyto our reporter.

“Chase, fabulous to see you.Thankyou for makingRedCarpetReadyyour first stop.We’lltalk about the movie in a second, but first you need to introduce me to the beautiful lady on your arm.”

Chasewraps his arm aroundEmily, and his hand appears on the other side of her waist.

“Icould fucking punch him,”Isay, tightening my grip on my bottle of beer.

“You’venever punched anyone in your life,”Connorsays. “Pleasedon’t start with aHollywoodactor with more lawyers than you can shake a gavel at.”

“ThisisEmilyLombardo,”Chasesays with pride. “She’sabout to become my new business partner.”

“She’smybusiness partner.”Ijab my finger at the screen. “You’rejust our walking, talking, smiling checkbook.”

“Lovelyto meet you,Emily,” the reporter says. “Andwhat business might that be?”

“IownToastedTomatobrewpubs.”Emily’svoice isstilted. “AndChaseis joining forces with me to build a craft brewery resort on an island offCapeCod.”

Ijump to my feet and point at the screen. “She’snever once in her life used the word ‘I’ when it comes to the business.”Acombination of hurt, anger, and disappointment swirls within me. “Shealways says ‘we.’Always.”

“Soundedlike she was given that line to recite,”Connorsays. “Youknow whatPRpeople are like.Hell, you’re the one who broughtSterlinginto my life and taught me how fake and staged all this stuff is.”

“Sterlinggot usChase.”

“Ah, well,”Connorsays. “AtleastIgotRoseout of my experience.”

RoseisConnor’sfiancée.Shestarted out as a pretend one, but turned out to be the woman of his dreams.Nowhe’s a changed man, his wild partying days behind him.

“Sohow long have you known each other?” the reporter asksEmilyandChase.

“Afew weeks,”Chasereplies.Heturns and looks down atEmily. “Butwe click on everything, andI’mcertain we’re a great team.”

“Together.Everyone.Annoys.Me.”Iblurt out.

“What?”Connorasks.

“Standingjoke.Longstory.Butthat’s exactly what’s going throughEm’shead right now.She’strying not to say, ‘TogetherEveryoneAnnoysMe.’”

Connorshakes his head. “Ifyou say so.”

“Soundslike you might be partners in more than just business,” the reporter says with a knowing smile in her voice.

“Ofcourse it sounds like that.”Iraise my voice at my screen. “That’sexactly what he meant it to sound like.”

“Well,Idon’t know,”Emilysays, looking down with an embarrassed smile.

“See,”Connorsays. “She’snot going along with it.”

“Whoknows,”Chasesays, squeezingEmilyto his side and flashing the reporter his megawatt grin. “Anyway,Iguess what we’re here to talk about is the movie, not my private ventures.”

“‘Privateventures,’ that’s what you call them, huh,Chase?”Iask the man on my screen.

“ShouldIcome over?”There’sa hint of concern inConnor’svoice. “Itsounds like you need some company to yell at.”

Andthat’s how the people who love you differ from everyone else in your life.Theyknow exactly what you need, when you need it, and will drop everything to give it to you.