It's always been you

Chapter 7 - Third wheeling a coffee date

JOSEPH POV

I arrived to the coffee shop before Ollie and Lucy and tried to get my head together. Come on Joseph mate. You can do this. They're your best friends and you're happy for them. I heard Ollie's laugh at the door to the cafe and turned to see them walk in holding hands. That hurt a bit. She saw me and dropped his hand as they approached the table. They both had big smiles on their faces so it could only be good news. For them.

"You both look happy." I smiled up at them to conceal my true feelings. Lucy leant down and gave me a quick hug, Ollie shook my hand. A waitress came and took our coffee orders and then Lucy spoke. "Joe I know Ollie told you he was going to 'make a move' last night. I just want to make 100% sure you're not uncomfortable with us dating." Oh Lucy if you only knew how "uncomfortable" I was right now.

"Of course not Luce. I appreciate you thinking of me but I promise. I'm happy for you guys really!" She smiled at me and squeezed my hand before letting go. Our coffees came and Ollie said "we've already promised each other we wouldn't make you uncomfortable around us. We won't be all 'coupley' around you. When it's us three together nothings gonna change." "Ollie you do know if you date Lucy you're gonna have to make friends with Thing eventually don't you?" "Ah fuck I hadn't thought of that. Harris seriously why can't you just get a cat? Or even a budgie!" "Oh we're back to surnames now are we Blake? He's my child so you need to be nice to him!"

I chuckled in to my coffee as they playfully squabbled over whether a tarantula was an acceptable pet or not. "Is your mum ok Joe?" Ollie asked me. "Huh? Mum? Yeah she's fine why?" "You said you had to leave early to help her last night." "Oh yeah she's fine. She just needed help rearranging furniture." Nice save Quinn. "I'd love to meet your mum. Ollie said she's wonderful." I smiled at Lucy when she said that. "Yeah my mum is a special lady."

We continued chatting over our coffees before ordering a second one each, and it was ok. I think I'll be ok. I'm going to move on and get over this girl and she's going to continue dating our best friend.

OLIVER POV

I was still concerned leading up to our coffee date with Joe that he was harbouring feelings for Lucy. I wasn't convinced when he just up and left so suddenly last night. But he seemed perfectly normal today. Maybe he was just a bit shocked last night and left to give us some privacy. And we kept to our promise. No coupley stuff in front of him.

After our coffees Joe left because he had to work that afternoon. Lucy and I had the rest of the day to ourselves so I decided to take her on a date. "Sweetheart I'm taking you out for dinner tonight." "Oh really? What if I'm not interested?" I raised my eyebrows at her and she grinned mischievously. "Watch it Harris. I'll take you home and then go home to shower and change. Be ready for me to pick you up at 6pm." "You're very bossy you know?" "Harris!" "What should I wear?" "I dunno. Clothes?" She rolled her eyes at me and said "we'll where are we going? Do I need to dress up or keep it casual?" "Hmmm. Maybe a little bit dressy."

We wandered back to her flat, our hands intertwined together. We have each other a kiss at the outside door to her building before I left her to go home myself before our date tonight. Shit. What the hell do I wear?

LUCY POV

I ran up the stairs to my flat two at a time hoping and praying Nikki was home. I burst through the door of the flat making her jump from her position from where she was sitting on the couch watching something on Netflix. "Help!" "Jesus Lulu what's wrong?!" "Ollie's taking me out for dinner and I don't know what to wear!" She smirked at me and said "how long do we have?" I looked at the clock on the wall. "2 hours." "Dressy or not dressy?" "He said a bit dressy". "A bit dressy what does that even mean?!" "I don't know he's a dude!" "Ok you go shower and start getting ready while I raid your wardrobe!"