Unspoken Affection

04

But for now, I decided to focus on this moment, the warmth of friendship filling the air around us as we walked side by side, ready to enjoy whatever the day had in store.

As we settled into a cozy corner at the café, I could feel the familiar comfort of our friendship enveloping us. I glanced at the menu, but my mind kept drifting back to Jake.

"So, I have some news," I said, trying to sound casual as I set my menu down. I wanted to gauge his reaction before diving into the topic. "I think I might have a suitor."

Jake raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? Is that so? Do tell."

I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach but pressed on. "Yeah, his name is Harvey Lee. He's British and actually younger than me. He'll be landing in town on Saturday, and I think he wants to meet up."

Jake's expression changed slightly, and I couldn't read what was behind it. "Harvey Lee? British, huh? What do you think about him?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone light. "I don't know yet. He's really charming and has a great sense of humor. It's nice to have someone interested in me, especially after everything with you. But I just thought you should know since I didn't want to keep it from you."

"Thanks for telling me," Jake said, his gaze steady on mine. "Are you planning to go out with him?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "I think I might. But I want you to meet him first, just so you can see what he's like. I don't want you to think I'm rushing into anything."

A flicker of something crossed Jake's face, but it was gone so quickly that I couldn't decipher it. "Yeah, sure. I'd like that. Just to make sure he's not some weirdo," he said, a hint of humor in his tone that eased the tension.

I laughed, grateful for his support. "Exactly! I need my best friend to approve. You know how it is."

"Of course," he replied, a small smile forming. "So, when are you thinking of introducing us?"

I pondered for a moment. "Maybe later this afternoon after Harvey arrives? We could all hang out together. I think it could be fun."

"Sounds good to me," Jake said, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of relief wash over me.

Just then, our orders arrived, breaking the momentary seriousness of our conversation. As we dug into our food, I noticed how easy it was to slip back into our playful banter, the lingering tension from before seemingly forgotten, at least for now.

But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that bringing Harvey into the picture could change things between Jake and me, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that. Still, the thrill of new beginnings was hard to resist.

"By the way," I said, shifting the topic, "how's Emily? Is she still around?"

Jake sighed lightly, and I could see a flicker of contemplation in his eyes. "Yeah, she is. We're doing okay. Just trying to figure things out, you know?"

I nodded, understanding. "I get it. Relationships can be complicated."

"Yeah," he replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I'm glad you're doing well. You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks, Jake," I said, genuinely appreciating his words. It felt good to share this moment with him, even if the road ahead was uncertain.