“Billy?”
“Yeah, darlin’?”
“I’m worried about you and Jace.”
“Why? You think he’s gonna challenge me to a duel over you or somethin’?” He picked up her left hand and brought it his lips. “You’re wearin’ my ring, your fate is sealed. I’m not givin’ you up for anyone.”
“It’s just that the two of you are a lot alike.”
“Handsome, charming, lady-killers, that sort of thing?”
“Yeah, that. Stubborn and maybe a little over-confident, too.”
“We’ll be fine. You gotta remember, we’re guys. We handle things differently. We’ll give each other a ton of shit, jabs mired in humor…don’t worry, we got this.”
Renie planned to take Blythe downtown. They’d have breakfast, shop, spend too much money, and things would be fine between them. She hoped.
They hugged when Renie came in the house. Blythe was quiet and sullen.
“We’re going to Izzys. Sometimes it gets crowded and there’s a long wait, but it’s worth it.”
“That’s fine.”
“Come on, Blythe. Are you going to act this way all day? I told you I was sorry.”
“I thought I was your best friend.”
“You are my best friend.”
“Then how come you never told me how you felt about Billy? I feel like such an idiot. All the times I asked you to fix me up with him, and you didn’t say a word. You lied to me, Renie.”
“I didn’t lie to you, Blythe.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I just didn’t tell you. I didn’t tell anyone.”
“That’s bullshit. I distinctly remember you telling me that you thought Billy was serious about someone. Remember that? Was it you?”
That had been before she and Billy went from being friends to being more. Blythe was right, she had lied.
“No, it wasn’t me.”
“See?”
“I didn’t tell anyone. It wasn’t just you. I couldn’t admit how I felt to anyone.”
“That’s the part I don’t understand. Why not?”
“It was too personal.”
“Too personal? I’m your best friend.”
“I’m sorry, Blythe. What more can I say?”
“Maybe we’re not as good of friends as I thought we were.”
“Don’t go there. It isn’t that way.”