Angsty - Enemies to Lovers - Slow Burn
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Hitch Pepper might've had a stupid name, and a personality that drove me crazy, but that didn't stop her from being gorgeous. Everyone knew it, guys and girls alike.
And my buddy Phil Childre...
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GUILT LIKES TO steal your breath, making it hard to breathe. Your ribcage feels tight, and your heart feels low in your chest. There's also a gnawing at your gut because it slowly eats away at you.
I was familiar with guilt because I felt it every time I saw Hitch or Phil after Hitch's birthday—but especially Phil.
Phil was oblivious to Hitch's 3:00 AM confession. He walked around the house like he normally did the day following, all bright and happy.
But me and Hitch? We were a different story.
I could tell Hitch felt the guilt, too, because I woke up the next morning to a full spread of Phil's favorite breakfast foods on the dining table. Looked like something out of a movie.
Phil was happily chowing down on it, a big smile on his face. "Morning, Julian!" he greeted cheerfully. "Look what Pepper made." He threw an arm around her from where she sat beside him, squeezing her shoulders and planting a kiss on her cheek. "Man, I'm lucky," he mused.
I had to look away. Seeing them together had always been hard, but seeing them together after finding out that Hitch reciprocated my feelings was a feat.
"Grab a plate and come sit," Phil said.
I did, keeping my eyes from the pair the entire time, sitting on the end next to Phil.
I wasn't hungry—hadn't been since I'd last talked to Hitch—so I flopped a small pancake onto my plate and a few slices of bacon.
Phil was the one to make conversation, talking in the place of Hitch and me.
"Man, y'all are quiet today," he ended up commenting.
"I'm still waking up," I offered.
"I didn't get good sleep last night," Hitch said.
"I know you didn't," Phil replied. "You kept tossing and turning. Woke me up a few times." He smirked, and then had to lean in and kiss her again.
I was finished eating after that, sticking my dishes in the sink before heading towards my room.
"Julian, wait," Phil called out.
I turned around and went back to the dining room. "Yeah?"
"You oughta come with me and Pepper to see the Christmas lights downtown tonight. We're thinking about going to that new bar, too."
Doing anything with them sounded terrible. "Uh, I don't know, man. I've got an early day at work tomorrow."
"Oh, we won't be out late," Phil said. "Come on, it'll be fun. Remember when your mom used to take us to see the lights when were kids? We used to love that crap."
