ROGUE

Never Say Never

I take a long, deep breath, my chest rising and falling like the tide as I steel myself for what's to come. My heart hammers against my ribcage, a drumbeat urging me forward. With every step toward Emily's cashier station, the weight of the impending conversation bears down on me, an invisible force that both propels and paralyzes.

"Hey, Em," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but it betrays a hint of the storm brewing within. "Can we talk? In my office?"

Her hands freeze mid-air, a bill half-folded between her fingers as she turns to me. Confusion flickers across Emily's face, those warm brown eyes searching mine for an explanation I'm not ready to give. Not here, not yet.

"Is everything okay?" Her voice is laced with concern, always the caring one. It's why this has to be done right—why I have to be careful not to bruise the friendship that means so much to me.

"Everything's fine," I lie, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Just need to discuss something. It'll only take a minute."

"Sure," She nods, her compliance only tightening the knot in my stomach.

I turn to Rebecca at the next register, keeping my expression neutral, professional. "Rebecca, would you cover for Emily for a bit?"

"Got it, boss," Rebecca says without missing a beat, her attention already shifting to the customers lining up.

Emily follows me, her light footsteps trailing behind as we weave through aisles of power tools and paint cans—the familiar landscape of our daily routine now a backdrop to my inner turmoil. We reach my office, a small room with a view over the shop floor, our sanctuary from the chaos outside its thin walls.

The door closes behind us with a click that sounds too final, sealing us into this moment. My pulse echoes in my ears, a reminder that there's no turning back now. I'm about to cross a line, and there's no telling if our bond can bear the weight of my truth.

The office feels smaller than usual, the hum of the fluorescent lights too loud. I lean against my desk, my fingertips brushing over the surface that separates us. It's a barrier I'm about to dismantle with words I can no longer contain.

"Emily, there's something I need to tell you," I begin, my voice betraying a tremor. "It's not easy for me to say this... I've tried to dismiss it, but it's persistent, and it's real." I pause, searching her face for a sign, any hint of what she might be thinking. But it's like looking into calm waters, no ripples to suggest the depth below.

"I know you probably already know this, but... over the years I've developed feelings for you," I confess, the words spilling out in a hurried breath. "Romantic feelings."

Her smile, the one that's often been my solace during a rough day, falters. There's a slight downturn at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes, those warm brown orbs, suddenly seem to carry the weight of the world.

"Dex," she starts, and her voice is a soft blow, a feather capable of tipping scales. "I care about you, I really do. You're an amazing friend, and what we have is important to me." She takes a small step forward, her hand reaching out as if to bridge the space between friendship and something more. But then it falls back to her side, a silent testament to the line she's not willing to cross.

"But I'm seeing someone," she continues, her words gentle yet firm. "And I don't want to hurt you, but I value our friendship too much to pretend otherwise."

The air changes, charged with a truth I can't reject. Her honesty is a gift, even if it's one that cuts. I nod, trying to keep my emotions from spilling over, to maintain the composure I've just shattered.

"I know. I really appreciate you for being honest with me," I manage to say, my voice a quiet echo of the chaos roaring inside. "And before things start to get awkward between us, I want you to have this."