All Those Things We Should’ve Said || Sturen
Stewart Runkin had loved Karen Reid from the moment he’d met her. Or, if not, it had been pretty close to it. But by the time he’d made her acquaintance, she was already with Chris Selznick. His best friend friend.
At first, things had been great. But that didn’t last. And Stu had been forced to sit back and watch their relationship devolve into arguments and loathing and just complete and utter hatred.
And through all of that, Stu had still loved her.
It had been three years since Chris and Karen divorced and during that time, Stu had had ample time to tell her how he really feels. He could’ve told her. He should’ve told her. Why hadn’t he told her?
He’d been scared. Scared that she wouldn’t feel the same. That it would mean losing Chris. That something would go wrong. Because everything could go wrong.
So, instead, he’d maintained a friendship with her. It wasn’t technically secret. But he’d never told Chris. And even though Chris probably thought Stu had chosen his side, Chris had never actually picked a side. At least, not consciously. He still continued his relationships with both.
He just wished that his relationship with Karen would end up being something more. He just never had the guts to take that step. Maybe he never would.
Even now, as he dropped into the opposite side of her booth, he knew he wouldn’t tell her. He saw her this way every morning. They were regulars at the same coffee shop and seeing her was typically the highlight of his day. Talking to her was even better.
“You know that stuff will kill you,” he said with a small nod at her cup as he took a sip from his own black, plastic mug. “It’ll kill me too. Most likely. But I like to live dangerously.”
He winked before laughing at his own joke. Though, actually, he’d lied. The only thing that would kill him would be Karen Reid. And sitting here, across from her, not being able to kiss her.
Now that was enough to bring a man to his knees.
