Better If He Goes (Always You #1) - Allie Everhart Page 0,72

was Nate wanted you to talk to me about."

"He wants to know if you still want to be friends. He thinks you're trying to ditch him after what happened."

"I wouldn't do that. I've told him a million times I still want to be friends."

"Then I'll tell him that." Brad texts him back.

"What'd you say?"

"I told him you still want to be friends." He sets his phone down. "I can't believe he asked me to do this. You guys have been friends forever. He should be able to talk to you himself."

"He should, but he doesn't like talking about stuff that makes him uncomfortable."

"Then you're not that great of friends."

"I'm starting to think that. I barely know you and I find you easier to talk to than Nate."

"I wouldn't say you barely know me. We've spent every day together since I got here. And I just told you stuff about my family that almost nobody else knows. We've also done things that people who barely know each other don't usually do." He smiles. "Well, I don't. I usually know the girl first."

"We could've done more if my mom hadn't walked in." My phone rings. "It's Nate. He's going to ask if I want to go out tonight."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I want to tell him no. I'd rather be with you. Just us, without him. But then he'll know something's going on."

"Then suggest we all go. We've been doing that since I got here. He won't think anything of it."

I'm lying to Nate, my best friend, but he's forcing me to. If he could just accept that I'm dating Brad we could avoid all this. Nate should be supporting me. He's always telling me to do what makes me happy, and I'm finally doing it. For the first time in my life, I'm doing what makes me happy.

Chapter Seventeen

Nate

"Riley, where are you?" I ask when she picks up.

"At a coffee shop."

"With Brad?"

"Yeah. We had lunch here."

"Lunch? It's after four."

"We stayed for coffee and have just been hanging out."

"I didn't think you guys would be gone that long. Are you going home soon?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"I want to take you out tonight. Maybe around seven?"

"Sure. I'll tell Brad."

"Not with Brad. I want it to just be us."

"Why?"

"Because we need to talk. Something's off between us. I know it's my fault, but I want to fix it."

"Talking about it won't fix it. We just need time."

"Riley, please. It's just dinner."

"I don't think it's a good idea. It'll feel like we're on a date."

"So we can never go out together again? That doesn't even make sense. We've been going out together for years, and now we can't?"

"It's different now."

"It's not. Nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed. You see me as more than a friend, which makes things awkward."

"It won't be awkward. I promise."

"Nate, I'm sorry, but I just don't feel comfortable with us going out like we're a couple, which is what it feels like now. I'm not saying we can't ever hang out again, just the two of us, but not yet. It's too soon."

I sigh, frustrated with Riley and angry at myself for telling her how I felt. I should've just kept quiet.

"So you'll only go if Brad goes?"

"Or you could invite someone else. Maybe Tara?"

"She's busy tonight."

"Then maybe we shouldn't go out."

"I need to. I've been stuck at home all day. We'll just take Brad along, if he's good with that. We'll pick you up at seven."

A half hour later, Brad gets home. I'm in the living room flipping through channels on the TV. I'm so bored. I should've been out with Riley all day, and I would've been if I hadn't told her how I felt about her.

"How'd it go?" I ask.

"Good." He walks past me.

"Hold on." I get up from the couch. "What'd you guys do?"

"Had lunch, then coffee. How about you? Do any job searching?"

"Yeah. Didn't find much. Did Riley ask you about tonight?"

"Dinner? Yeah. Works for me. I'm gonna go change."

"Sorry about having to drag you along, but Riley doesn't want to be alone with me." I shake my head. "I really fucked this up."

"It'll get better in a week or so. For now, maybe just back off. Give her some space. You think you'll go out with Tara again?"

"I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"If Riley sees you with someone else, you'll have a better chance of thing's going back to normal."

"Did she tell you that?"

"No, but think about it. If you're with someone else, she'll feel