Closer

29.

By the end of their shopping trip, Brett was certain his card was burning from all the swiping. It wasn't that she had really asked for anything. Actually, she hadn't asked him to pay for anything at all. All she had done was to try it on, look absolutely stunning and then Brett found himself offering to pay for it.

"Promise me you'll wear that red dress for our next date?" he had requested as they parted ways. She had a phone call from a friend, and Brett said it was fine. Of course she needed time with her friends too.

"Of course, sweetie," she had promised, kissing him softly to confirm it. "But I have to go, I'll talk to you later, okay babe?"

Brett was walking home in the heat when he realized it wasn't even two in the afternoon yet. Maybe he and Eddy could get some work done now instead? He was walking past his house anyway.

For reasons he didn't really get, he felt nervous about knocking in Eddy's door. It was stupid, they were best friends. He'd explain things to Eddy, they'd talk about it like they always did and everything would be fine.

It didn't feel like it would be fine when he saw Eddy's face after opening the door. He looked like he had been crying.

"What do you want?" he asked flatly, and the tone surprised Brett. It surprised him even more when Ray appeared behind him with an apologetic look. He had asked Ray to check on him, but hadn't expected Ray to actually go to his house to do so.

"I thought... Well, maybe we could... Do some work...?" Brett stuttered, but was silenced when Eddy scoffed and looked away.

"What, did she ditch you?" Eddy asked bitterly, but was calmed down by Ray's large hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Eddy. You two need to talk about things like grown-ups," Ray said, trying to sound encouraging. "Give the guy a chance."

Eddy met Brett's eyes for a moment, and Brett could have sworn his expression softened before he wrapped his arms around himself and moved his gaze to the floor. Then he moved to the side to let him in.

"Thank you," Brett sighed and stepped inside. Ray sent him a smile as Eddy shut the door behind him.

"I'll head out for my next meeting now, though, okay?" Ray said, mostly to Eddy. "I'll text when I get home tonight, okay?"

Eddy nodded, looking like he'd rather watch a Strad get sat on than have Ray leave right then.
"Okay, thanks for the bubble tea," Eddy mumbled, obviously trying his best not to cry again. Brett felt guilty just seeing him like that.

"Hey, I'm here for you, okay? Just give me a call and I'll clear off my schedule," Ray assured him and pulled him into a tight hug. "As long as I'm in town of course."

Brett had to look away, knowing Eddy shouldn't need to rely on Ray for support. He should be able to lean on him, as his supposed best friend. How badly could one guy fuck up, really?

"I gotta go, but I'll see ya, okay?" Ray said, and Eddy slowly let the hug go, immediately wrapping his arms around himself again.

"I'll... Uh, do you want me to... to make some coffee?" Brett asked once Ray had closed the door behind him.

"No, no. I'll do it. Just go sit in the living room or whatever, I'll be right there," Eddy mumbled and disappeared into the kitchen.

Brett shuffled himself into the living room as instructed, but stopped before he could sit down when he heard a tiny sob. Shit.

"Eddy?" he asked as he peeked into the kitchen, and his heart broke seeing his best friend trying his best to keep himself from crying. "Dude, come here."

He closed the distance between them and pulled Eddy into a tight hug, feeling him shake in his arms.

"I'm s... sorry... I'm just being stupid..." Eddy sobbed, hiding his face in the crook of Brett's neck. Brett shook his head and rubbed his back gently, not really sure what to do. Certainly this couldn't just be because he had been off work for a few days?

"Don't apologize, Eddy. Tell me what's wrong instead, please?" Brett suggested, and this time it was Eddy's turn to shake his head.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry," Eddy sniffled and pulled away from the hug to continue making coffee. Brett could still see the tears running down his cheeks, though.

"Eddy..."

"Just leave it, I'm fine," Eddy interrupted him. "I'm just stressed because we're so behind with work and you don't seem to care anymore."

Brett stared at Eddy for a moment, suppressing the urge to defend himself and tell him he's an idiot for even considering that.

"Is... is that how it seems?" he asked instead, running a hand through his hair while trying to figure out how to fix this. "That's not... not how it is at all. I'm sorry."

"Just come and do work. You don't even have to pretend to like me, but please let me have TwoSet still, at the very least?" Eddy asked, staring at the coffee brewer as the coffee dripped into the pot. "I'm sorry I fucked things up between you and Leonora, but you didn't have to tell her. She wouldn't have found out."

"Dude, of course I still like you!" Brett exclaimed, crossing his arms. He didn't understand at all where all this was coming from. "What is even this, Eddy? What did I do?"

Eddy paused and tilted his head down. It looked like he just resigned himself to the situation.
"Nothing, I'm just being stupid. I'm sorry."