Aren't you happy for me?

2) I don't want you to feel uncomfortable

Ant really wanted to remain Dec's best friend. He knew it would be hard, seeing him with Stephen but he swore to himself to never leave Dec's side. If he couldn't have him as a boyfriend, then he at least wanted to have him as his best friend. But Ant wasn't prepared for how hard it would be.

It started right the next weekend when Dec asked him to come over for dinner. When he arrived, Stephen opened the door and of course Ant had expected him to be there. He shook his hand and smiled widely and congratulated Stephen. Apparently, Ant was a great actor because Stephen pulled him into a hug.

"Thanks Ant, it means a lot that you appreciate it" Stephen smiled once they separated. "It was my biggest fear that you wouldn't accept it."

"Oh" Ant said surprised. "No, I... I am really happy for you guys" he added quickly and managed another convincing smile.

What then followed was a display of fresh pure mad love, right in front of Ant's eyes. Stephen touched Dec whenever he got the chance to do so.

He put his hand on his waist when Dec came in with a bottle of wine. He guided him with his hand between his shoulder blades when they sat down to eat. He took his hand and stroked it lovingly with his thumb when they sat at the table talking. He swung his arm around Dec's shoulder when they sat down on the sofa afterwards.

And those stupid stupid kisses to his cheek, his forehead, his gorgeous lips. Ant tried to avert his gaze every time, but he couldn't, although he knew he should.

Ant knew that Dec liked the attention and he liked the strong aura of Stephen, Ant had noticed that immediately. Ant had always known that Dec was sensitive and he needed exactly that. A strong boyfriend, someone he could lean on, someone who wrapped his muscular arms around him, someone who showed him how much he loved him.

And Ant had to admit, Stephen was all that. And it made his blood boil. He didn't want to but he couldn't help it, every time those hands touched his Declan, he felt a sting in his heart.

But Ant was a good best friend and so he smiled and laughed with them.

"So Ant, Dec told me about Lisa" Stephen smiled and sighed. "He said you saw her in the shop the other day?"

"Oh yeah" Ant nodded. "Well, it's alright. We just weren't made for each other. And it's been 5 months now, I'm over it."

"Good" Stephen smiled. "Because I don't want you to feel uncomfortable" he added and Ant was a bit taken aback.

"Uncomfortable?" he asked.

"Yeah, well... seeing us together now, you know?"

"Oh" Ant said and thought 'If only you knew how right you are' and sighed.

"Ant?" Dec suddenly asked, concerned.

Ant knew Dec was worried about him, that Dec needed his approval, it had always been like that. So he quickly put on his best smile and even lay a hand on Stephen's shoulder. He knew it would assure Dec and Dec being happy was his priority now.

"I said it to Decky already and I say it again now: I am very happy for you, you make a great couple" Ant smiled and patted Stephen's shoulder. "And it doesn't make me uncomfortable seeing you two together, you are quite cute actually."

'I must be mental to torture myself like that' Ant thought but he managed to keep his smile to the outside.

"Okay, good" Stephen grinned widely and leaned over and kissed Dec again. "And you are right, he is incredibly cute."

Dec only giggled again and Ant's heart sank to his boots. He took a deep breath and managed to keep that smile. Images flushed his mind and he felt a bit sick, but he knew he shouldn't.

If he was a good friend he'd be happy for Dec and in a strange way he really was. He liked to see his Declan so happy and bubbly and his eyes had this sparkle to them whenever he looked at Stephen and Ant knew Dec was head over heels in love.

His Declan was happy and that was all that mattered.