Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XLIII. Reverse-Harem Cafe

"It's kind of cold still." I mention while rubbing my hands together and breathing into them. Small talk is all I could manage at the moment considering how much pressure had just been put on me. I thought maybe if I just didn't bring up the fact that each of the guys had confessed to me, they would be able to wait a bit longer. I just don't want to ruin any of our friendships. But I guess that would be selfish of me. And then there's William...

"Do you want to borrow my jacket?" Ulrich asks, already half slipping it off himself.

"It's fine." I respond as I open the passenger door of his car but he walks up to me anyway and puts his jacket on my shoulders. It instantly warms me up. "Oh uh, thanks."

Ulrich smiles awkwardly, I can see the faint blush that rises to the surface of his cheeks. Ulrich and I have been best friends since the beginning of high school. He's so important to me but am I able to see him as more than that? And if I don't...would we still be friends afterwards??

I take a seat in the car and Ulrich plops right next to me in the driver's seat. He switches on the radio and some EDM starts playing. He normally prefers rock and alternative but he does it for me.

The car pulls away from the curb and I watch as Lancaster disappears into the distance. The drive to my apartment seems normal for the most part. Ulrich rants about how his drama club friends keep making fun of him for playing the the big bad pink bonnet-wearing wolf in the spring play and I laugh at how offended he's getting.

"And what was wrong with that kid who kicked me in the balls after the play??" He says uncomfortably. "it really hurt, ... I honestly thought I wasn't going to be able to move afterwards."

I chuckle at his pettiness, "Are you seriously letting a little seven year old get to you? He probably couldn't even kick that hard."

"And are you siding with the a seven year old and not your best friend??" He pouts childishly.

"I am siding with justice!" I declare resolutely.

I catch him rolling his eyes before chuckling a bit. He steadily pulls up to the front entrance of the apartment complex and puts the car in park. I thank him and am about to get out of the car when-

"Mae, one more thing before you leave."

I turn to look at him, "Mhm?"

He tentatively glances down for a moment before raising his gaze to mine. "No matter who you choose tomorrow, we'll always stay best friends." He says considerately. "Even though I hope you choose me." His last few words break our eye contact and he shifts back embarrassingly.

"Thanks." I reply, feeling grateful for his understanding.

He grins before telling me to hurry inside to escape the cold. He adds that I can return his jacket when I see him at school the next day. And with that, we part ways for the night.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There is only one thing I'm sure of. And that's the fact that there isn't an easy answer.

I carry my mug of hot green tea to the couch and let myself sink into the comfortable seat cushions. I hold the cup up to my face, allowing the steam warm up my cheeks and close my eyes.

Reflecting on my memories with the guys makes me realize how important each one of them are to me.

As soon as I met Max, he was genuinely kind to me. Even though I was new at the cafe, he treated me as an equal and when I'm with him, life is fun...and full of Godzilla references.

Ulrich and I go way back to the beginning of high school, when I moved to the city. Even though I transferred in late to school, he reached out to me and we've been very close ever since. He's overprotective and coddling but I know he'll always be there when I need him.

For some reason the most prominent memory that I associate with Ervin is that time when we did the couple's contest together and failed miserably. I still can't believe he actually did that with me although it took a little convincing. Ervin can be too uptight and serious sometimes but I know that he's a patient and generous person inside.

Jacob, oh where do I begin with this guy. I thought he was just an annoying flirt at first. But after finding out how much effort he put into protecting me from Reika, I can see that he's a very selfless person and would do anything to protect me. And even if he's a pervert, his stupid antics never fail to make me laugh.

I raise the warm mug to my lips at take a sip.

Of course I can't forget Prince Lancaster himself. I never thought William and I would go from enemies to friends as fast as we did. Although he was arrogant and selfish in the beginning, he has proven to just be a tsundere at heart. But he's leaving to study abroad tomorrow...

Each one of the guys has made the past year incredibly special and memorable. It's hard to believe that I gained such strong and amazing friendships just from coincidentally getting a job at Lancaster. ...that being said, I don't know if those friendships will last after choosing one of them. And at the same time, what would happen if I don't choose anyone?

I slowly open my eyes and set my mug down. Even though it's difficult, I know want to be with.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Author's Note

Hi lovely readers!!

So as I mentioned in my last update, this is the second to last chapter of the book and I just want to thank you so much for reading and keeping up with my slow updates until now. Due to popular demand, I will be making multiple endings :D and I have them planned out already so look forward to them soon! I promise they won't take forever and a snail on a mile crawl to be uploaded. It'll be like a snail on wheels. But just out of curiosity, I just wanted to know which guy/ending you like the most or are looking most forward to. Please comment your answers!! Thanks again for reading and voting. Your support means so much to me, more than food and food is life.

Love, AwkNaut