Page 60 of I Could Never
I remained vague. “Well, she told me how she ended the night.”
“Yeah. She wasn’t feeling it. Or at least that’s what I took from her saying she didn’t want to go out again.” Neil shook a sugar packet. “It sucks. I really liked her.” He stirred his coffee. “But that’s okay. It is what it is. Her loss.”
I nodded. “You absolutely deserve a woman who appreciates you, my man. I always say, you’re the best catch there is.”
He stared out the window. “Maybe I need to move out of Woodsboro. My options here are limited.”
“You’d be surprised, brother. The grass isn’t always greener. Not sure I ever really appreciated Woodsboro until this most recent trip home.”
“Interesting. I always thought you hated it here.”
“I did.”
“What changed?”
“I’m not sure.” I shook my head. “Maybe I’m just more mature now and can appreciate all the things I used to take for granted—like breakfast with my little brother.” I winked.
Neil and I were only a year apart. He was twenty-nine to my thirty, while Michael was two years older than me.
He took a sip of his coffee. “I’m not buying it.”
“Why?”
“I got a vibe last night.” He stared into my eyes. “And I want you to be honest.”
“A vibe about what?” I gulped the coffee too fast and nearly burned my throat.
“You and Carly…”
Now I nearly choked on it. “There’s nothing going on there,” I insisted. “If that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Are you sure? I won’t be mad if it’s true. I’d understand.”
“Nothing’s going on,” I repeated. “Why would you think that?”
“It was the way she lit up when she talked about you. It made me wonder if her disinterest was less about me and more about you.”
I laughed, my guilt surging. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, now Iknowyou’re lying.”
“Why?”
“Your eye just twitched. That always used to happen when you fed me bullshit when we were kids.”
Is it hot in this damn place or is it just me?Grinding my teeth, I said, “Maybe I’m just uncomfortable because you’re making assumptions about me and my best friend’s girl.”
“Josh, if you can’t be honest with me, who the fuck can you be honest with? You mean to tell me you’ve been living with Carly, and nothing has happened all this time?”
I looked him straight in the eyes. “Nothing has happened. Not even when we slept in the same bed last night.”
His eyes were like saucers. The words had escaped me before I could think better of it.
“Ooooohkay. Hold up.” Neil rubbed his temples. “Say what? Last night? After she came home from her date with me?”
“Yes, but it had nothing to do with that. Scottie busted my air mattress, and the couch is like a rock. So she insisted I sleep in the bed. She was on her side, and I was on mine. No…funny business.” I chuckled at my use of that Carly-ism.
He raised a brow. “Funny business?”