The Rose Boys 2

Chapter 3

"I haven't seen her in a while." I sighed, hanging off the edge of the lounge chair miserably. "She won't talk to me and they've sent over some old hag to do her job." 

"Rest assured that I can hear your offensive comments and I do take offence to them." The lady had grey hair and mean brown eyes. A permanent scowl seemed glued to her face.

Darren smiled and shook his head. "I think you should keep it down or your Nanny might send you to bed."

Nick reached over to punch Darren in his large arm but couldn't quite reach. "Whatever man, she's not my keeper. I can do whatever I want. She just kind of cramps my style."

"I think she's knitting." Darren said, turning

 over in his chair to indeed, see her knitting away in the other room. 

The sun was warm on Nick's face, he closed his eyes against the bright light as he lay back and relaxed. "I never thought that I would say this but, I kind of miss Emily." 

"She is pretty good looking, do you think it's something more?"

"As if, she's way to stuck up for someone like me. I can imagine her dating some middle class business man or something. I think I'm a bit too wealthy for her taste, like that's a thing.

Darren shrugged. "January didn't feel too keen on dating me at first when she saw what kind of money we had. Her parents were thrilled but she wasn't having anyone taking advantage of me for my money. Like that has ever happened."

I smiled weakly. "How are you and January doing anyway? I'm glad you're back down." 

Darren sighed. "To be honest, we aren't doing as well as we used to be. I feel like the flames not burning brightly as it used to. We are engaged to be married and some days it doesn't feel like we are meant to be together anymore."

My heart seemed to skip a beat in my chest. "I'm sorry to hear that, you know that if you need anything at all, I'm here for both of you." I felt like a horrible, terrible person as the words spilled out of my mouth. My best friend was talking about how his relationship with the woman he loves isn't going as well as it used to, and I was excited at the idea of January back on the dating market. Just so I could have her to myself.

"I know," he smiled. "And we both appreciate how great of a friend you are to us. We truly do appreciate it. More than we can even begin to express." 

I hated myself at that moment. I didn't want to talk about January anymore. "How could I even begin to start saying I'm sorry to Emily? I want to make things right with her but I don't know how." I sighed, partly to change to subject but also because I genuinely needed advice.

"I don't know, it sounds like you're going to have to do that one thing that you despise." He shrugged and grabbed for the iced tea that sat on the small, glass table between us.

"Oh no. Don't tell me I'm going to have to work at that Soup Kitchen again. I understand that you're homeless but you don't have to be so obnoxious and smelly about it." 

"Maybe the reason Emily isn't interested, is because you have a lot of growing up to do. I meant apologizing, man. You've got to say you're sorry first and move on." 

I stared past the rooftops before us and at the not so far away beach. The sun glittered off the ocean that spread out into what seemed like eternity. I rolled over onto my back and exhaled deeply. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for this kind of stuff." 

Darren looked over at me through his dark sunglasses. "I found someone I wanted to love in High School, I decided to throw away my entire lifestyle to be with her. I ended up patching things up with my Mother afterwards but the thing was that I really did prepare myself to live like a pauper. I think that was the  moment that January realized that I was serious about us. I was willing to throw everything away for her. Can you say that you're willing to do that for Emily?"