So Rob had mentioned it, to some degree. Her ears were burning as she realized her mistake. But she couldn’t bring herself to confess the whole story – wouldn’t it be worse? A casual date that went nowhere was better than making them think she was a coward. But then they started talking about putting in a good word for her, and her brow furrowed. She wasn’t sure what she had wanted their reaction to be, but certainly not that – had she actually been misreading everything that like she was afraid to do? “O-oh um…” Before she could come up with any kind of answer, Riley had quickly moved on about the balcony. She stood there, even more confused than before Rob came into the conversation. Maybe Layla had been right. Maybe they just had too much to drink at the wedding. Maybe, as usual, she was being an idiot. She gave a slight nod. “Yeah, sure.”
It was arguably the longest two hours of her life. She had been barely paying attention to the movie, despite her eyes glued to the screen the entire time. She only kept them there because she had to fight off the urge to turn her head towards them. All she could think about was replaying that moment at the wedding over and over, morphing it into several different ways it actually went. Had she actually been wrong? Of course, it was more likely than the alternative. How foolish she was to entertain the idea that they could ever want to be more than just friends. But what made it worse was that it didn’t deter her from wanting to be around them. Same old cycle, Layla, she thought to herself. Suffering in silence. She felt guilty being relieved when the credits started to roll. She sat up to grab the plate where the cookies had once been before they were devoured from the coffee table. “I tried really hard, but, I still don’t get where the attraction to Steve Carrell’s coming from,” she teased as she stood up. Mentally she scolded herself for that silly ache going on in her chest right now. The all-to-familiar feeling of defeat. She was quick to head to the kitchen to wash the plate. Cleaning always gave her the illusion of feeling better. “Maybe if they took out everyone in the cast except for Kevin Bacon. Then I’d finally get it.”
It could have gone worse, much worse, Riley attempts to silently remind themself after the credit screen begins to roll and Layla rises from her place on the couch. They had been good. Keeping a respectful distance between themself and her, they had maintained their distance, timed their grabbing for cookies, and even catered their normal endless stream of movie commentary so it was all respectful, objective. Nothing was said and done to push the fold. Nothing was said or done to ruin their perfectly constructed line between friend and something else, not after what was revealed tonight. No, even Riley with their tendency to air on the side of impulse, knew that this was a line they could not cross.
Besides, when it all came down to it, they had to believe this was just a temporary thing. When all was to be said and done, they would eventually get over this urge to listen to their feelings, or rather ( they hoped ), hormones. They always had in the past anyways, one way or another.
And so, like they would with any other friend after a days worth of activities behind them, Riley rise from their place on the couch and follow her into the kitchen. “Dang, so I take it you’re not a Footloose fan either? Poor Kevin Bacon... he seems like an alright guy to me, even if he doesn’t seem as nice as Steve if you know what I mean. He’s aged like fine wine okay? I can’t help it,” they retort. The air that hangs between them feels stale, sucked dry of the ease that used to shroud their prior interactions. There’s not much more they can take of this, and so they, like they would with any other friend, wrap their arms around her for a brief goodbye hug accompanied by a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I, uh, should get going. Matt’ll be wondering where I am, and I’ve got work tomorrow anyways, but thank you for today, really. You’re a better friend than I could ever hope for,” they begin before adding, “You let me know about my offer alright? Thanks again for the impromptu Cookies & Carell fan club meeting, Lil Broderick. I’ll be seeing you.” With that, they turn on their heels and head for the door, only pausing to give a small wave goodbye before leaving.
