ACQUAINTANCE (Book #3 - EMAILS TO DAN)

28 November 2022

/mention of alcohol/

"PJ's!" Phil cheered. "I haven't had dinner with anyone in awhile!" I looked over at him in awe.

"Well, I'm glad I can have dinner with you as I did miss it," I blurted out.

Fucking hell.

"What?" He asked.

Dan, you idiot.

"Nothing."

"Oh," he shrugged. He gave a confused smile as we approached PJ's flat.

Knocking on his door, PJ opened it with a confused, yet surprised smile on his face as well. He and I both knew exactly why.

I was here with Phil.

"Dan! Phil! Come in, food is ready." Like Phil and I, PJ hasn't gotten married either. He focused more on arts and literature than a person whom he would love. He seemed to be happy that way and preferred his life to be the way it already is; however, he would like to get married in the future. Though for now, he liked the way things were going for him.

Phil walked inside as I followed along. PJ's flat seemed to be more pleasant and well decorated than before. Chris approached us in the den with an awkward smile. I haven't talked to him in awhile, but I never asked Phil if he has. It's not that I didn't think about him, I was just too caught up in my life and knew PJ knew most about Phil when I didn't.

"Hey, guys," he spoke softly. I greeted with a smile as Phil gave him a hug.

"Nice to see you again, Chris," he said. It felt awkward standing there by myself as PJ brought food to the table. Once the hug was over, Chris looked over at me. I shrugged the thought and decided to give him a hug as well.

"Great seeing you, Chris."

"I could say the same." He let go with a smile on his face.

                                       • • •

The food Chris and PJ prepared smelt familiar. As Phil had dinner with his family, I didn't spend it with anyone. PJ had invited me several times, although I would reject it and say I was busy. Terrible lie, he knew that, but he'd let me be.

"Alright, you two," PJ spoke after a mouthful of potatoes. "What happened?"

"What?"

"Are you two best mates again?" Chris asked.

"Acquaintances, you could say." Picking up my glass of water, I took a sip as PJ's focus stayed on me.

"Yeah," Phil said, unaware of all the looks going across the table. "It was a bit odd, actually. He randomly showed up at my flat." He smiled as he finished his sentence, ending it with food filling up his mouth.

"Really?" PJ asked. "How did he know where you lived."

Fuck.

"You gave it to him, remember?"

Shit.

"No? I don't recall."

Damn it.

"Dan told me you gave it to him," Phil mentioned. "Right, Dan?" He asked, looking over at me.

"Um, yeah." I cleared my throat, trying to get out of the conversation.

"When did I give it to you? I surely would've asked Phil first, of course."

"Over a month ago."

PJ started to think about when I called him. By the expression on his face, I knew he couldn't remember. In all honesty, I wish he would stay that way so he wouldn't ask again.

Then the expression on his face changed into a stern look.

I fucked up.

"Dan, did you call me on the nineteenth?"

"Y-yeah."

"Are you fucking serious?" PJ stood up.

"PJ, I'm sorry, okay?"

"That still doesn't change the fact that you took advantage of me!"

"Dan, what is he talking about?" Phil looked over at me again, only with curiosity on his face now.

"Shit's about to go down," Chris quietly muttered, though I ignored his comment. Instead, I glanced at PJ and shrugged.

"Dan, you know damn well what I'm talking about. Just fucking tell Phil already instead of acting like I intentionally told you his address."

"Okay!" I shouted. "Fine!" Taking a deep breath, I turned to Phil again who eagerly wanted to know what PJ and I were talking about. "I asked PJ your address at the wrong time."

"What do you mean 'at the wrong time'?"

No matter how much I hated the truth, I knew it would have been brought up someday.

But I didn't think it would be like this.

"He was drunk."