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Bradley
I meet up with the guys at Corey’s Pool Bar off-campus. The crowd is already beginning to thicken when I arrive. The music is vibrating underneath the chatter of voices in the room. The bar area to my left is nearly empty, aside from two guys ordering drinks. Only two of the eight pool tables are vacant on the center floor. Twelve square tables wrap around three-fourths of the wall on the upper deck overlooking the pool area. There’s a dance floor in the back that’s empty now, but will soon be hopping with people.
I search the room, looking for my reason for being here. I spot Nate, Phil, and Garrett standing in a back corner with a few girls surrounding them. Nate and Phil entertain two of them, while Garrett is wrap up in the other three. I shake my head at the girls. They could do so much better, yet they seem to be hanging onto his every word.
I don’t know what Sam ever saw in him. In all of the time that I’ve known him, he’s never been the type to settle down with just one girl. He’s the most self-centered person I know. Sam is far from any girl that I’ve seen him with, which makes me wonder how they ended up together in the first place.
I try to think of a way to approach the situation on my way over to them. I think about all of the good times the four of us have had hanging out together and how much that will change soon. As much as I want to get things out in the open with Garrett, there’s a part of me that wants everything to go back to how it was; before I found out that my girlfriend and my friend once had an emotional connection. I want one more moment of normal before our friendship changes forever. I decide that I won’t mention it until after our game of pool.
“What’s up, guys?” I say calmly, as I come to a stop beside them.
Their attention immediately snaps to me. Nate and Phil offer sly smiles, while Garrett stares at me like he’s waiting for the ball to drop. He gives me a look of confusion. He’s probably wondering if I know his secret, but I give no indication that I do.
“Was there a change in plans?” I ask, glancing at each of the girls. “I thought this was a guy’s night out.”
Garrett eyes me for a moment longer before his expression turns slick. “It is, but as it happens, one of the guys showed up late to the party.” He looks pointedly at me. “We were here. They were here.” He says, nodding to the girls. “One thing led to another. We had to do something to pass the time.”
“I can see that.”
“If you want, I’m sure one of them would love to entertain you. I don’t mind sharing.” He smirks at me, and for some reason, it makes me think of Sam. I can’t tell if he’s being his usual self or if he’s throwing a jab at me over Sam. Either way, I don’t like it, but I keep up my cool demeanor.
The way I see it, Sam is mine now. She is not his to share. “No, thanks. I have everything I need at home,” I say meaningfully. I know it’s childish, but it feels good watching Garrett squirm for once. Sam is the only girl I’ve ever known to get a reaction out of him, and she’s off-limits. I can only imagine how that makes him feel.
I smile at Garrett’s sudden change in demeanor. His fingers twitch around one of the girl’s shoulders. He whispers something into each of their ears, the last one a little longer than the others. They leave us. Most of them glare at me as they walk away, except for the last one. She stops in front of me momentarily to run her hand down the length of my chest, stopping just shy of my zipper. She tips up to my ear and whispers, “Such a shame. I could’ve made your boys night so much better.” She turns and blows a kiss to Garrett before sauntering away.
He watches her walk away, and I watch him wondering what he’s up to. Why would he purposely do something like that, knowing that I’m with Sam? Unless... No, he wouldn’t. I shake the thought from my head. He would never break the code. He doesn’t have much respect for girls, but he would never go against his brother.
We claim one of the remaining tables and fall into a competitive game of pool; me and Nate against Phil and Garrett. We’re all equally as good as the other. So, it’s usually hard to tell who will win. Tonight is different. Garrett isn’t as focused as he normally is, which causes his game to be off. I know why, but Nate and Phil have no idea what’s going on. Phil is frustrated by Garrett’s lack of focus, while Nate and I are pleased. We win every game, and Garrett refuses to give up. I finally have to call it quits and suggest we have a drink.
We order a couple of beers from the bar and find a table. Phil and Nate sit closest to the railing, while Garrett makes it a point to sit right across from me.
“I guess this is the last time we’ll have a night like this together for a while with mister businessman leaving us soon,” Phil says before he takes a swig from his mug.
I shrug my shoulders. “Probably,” I say knowingly. I’m not leaving, but even with me staying in town, I doubt that nights like this will be anything less than uncomfortable after tonight. I would love to think that Garrett and I could go back to the way it was, but after his actions tonight, I don’t think it’s possible. I’m sure I’ll be more than busy at my new job, and I have Sam to think about now.
“Have you decided on a place yet?” Nate asks.
“I’m leaning heavily on sticking around here, but it’s not set in stone yet. I’m keeping my options open for now.”
Garrett perks up at my response. “Trouble in paradise already?”
“No. Just the opposite actually. Things couldn’t be better,” I reply. It doesn’t take a genius to know that he’s referring to Sam, and there is no way I would imply that there’s even the slightest chance of us calling it quits.
“The two of you seem happy together,” Nate says.
“We are.” I look pointedly at Garrett. “She’s the one.”
We spend the next half hour talking about typical guy stuff; cars, girls, and sports. Before I realize it, it’s late, and the crowd has expanded around us.
“Well, that’s my cue.” I nod to the too crowded dance floor beneath us and stand.
“Going so soon?” Garrett asks, his brow raised curiously.
“Yeah. This isn’t really my scene anymore.” I pause to look down at him. “Can I talk to you outside before I go?”
“Sure.”
Nate and Phil give us both curious glances. Garrett stands and follows me out of the noisy bar without question. He must’ve figured out by now that I know.
The cold air slaps me in the face as soon as I step outside. We clear the door, coming to a stop in front of the bar. Garrett’s hands are tucked inside his coat pockets when I turn to face him.
“What’s up?” he asks me.
I don’t really care what happened in their past, because Sam says she’s over it and I respect that. Her happiness is what matters. So, if she wants us to be civil, I can try to do that for her. What I want to know is where Garrett’s head is. What he was and is thinking from that night in my and Sam’s apartment up until now.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask him.
Garrett flinches as if I’d hit him with a brick. “So, you do know.” He states as if confirming what he already knew.
“Yeah. Sam told me everything. I understand her need to stay silent that night. I get why she asked you not to say anything, but what made you want to keep quiet? You are supposed to be my brother.”
He shuffles his feet, looking away nervously. It’s rare that Garrett shows any type of real emotion. I’m thrown off when he responds.
“Because she asked me to and regardless of how things ended between us, I still love her. I still want what’s best for her.”
“You love her?” I take a step back to keep myself from punching him. Hearing him say that overrides my thoughts. “How could you do what you did to someone you love?” The Garrett that I know is incapable of love. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The sad thing is, he probably believes the words coming out of his mouth. And what’s hurtful to me is, it’s his truth. It doesn’t matter how much I wish it were a lie.
“I’ve asked myself that same question over and over.” He sighs loudly into the cold night air.
“And exactly what do you think is best for her?” I ask.
“Look, man, it doesn’t matter what I think. She’s with you now. I get that. What Sam and I had was a long time ago.”
His words seem to be genuine. He’s different when he talks about her. I can feel the tension rolling off of him in contrast to his otherwise relaxed stance.
“So, you’re cool with me being with her? No problems? Objections?”
“I’m good. She doesn’t want me. She loves you.”
My heartbeat picks up at his words.
“Are we good?” he asks me.
I honestly have no gripes with him, as long as he stays away from Sam. “Yeah, we’re good. Just don’t expect to be invited back to the apartment or anything.”
He holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey, I get it. Hands off.” He chuckles, trying to lighten the conversation.
I join in, chuckling under my breath, and though it relaxes me to let go of some of the tension between us, I have to wonder if he really gets it. Is it really that simple?
