Stuck With Me

32 | Mr. Honey

''God, Mom that was so inappropriate.'' Betty said disgusted as they made their way into the living room. Alice rolled her eyes by the exaggerated reaction of her daughter.

''He was just being friendly.'' Alice explained, placing the groceries on the dinner table. At the same time FP came out of the kitchen, which he just got done cleaning.

''Who was? Did I miss something juicy?'' He smiled, as it had to be something funny according to both Alice and Betty's face.

''Principal Honey. He asked her out on a date.'' Betty cringed and started to unpack their bags, sorting everything out so it was easier to put it away— truly a Smith quality.

''He's having dinner here tonight, I hope that's okay.'' Alice smiled uncomfortably to both of them.

FP felt his heart sink as he heard that they had a guest this evening. He hadn't forget the time he had checked her out, whether that was his imagination or not. Alice had it straight up denied but he was sure this man had his eyes on her. Fuck— he was jealous already and he wasn't even there yet.

''As long as we get some money for Pop's that is more than okay.'' Jughead came down the stairs and overheard the last part of their conversation. Betty sent him a glare and he immediately realized that it wasn't a smart move. If they wanted to see if there was something between her parents then they needed to be here.

"Only this time." Alice gave in, making Jughead smile. Denying it now would be suspicious, especially since Jughead never refused eating at Pop's. All they could do now as study the faces of both Alice and FP to see if there was something to read. 

''Really? That guy?'' FP scoffed a little harsher than he intended.

He never thought that a man like him was Alice'a type. One thing was for sure; he wasn't going to cook tonight so she could have a good time with someone else. Why did she do this? Wasn't this situation uncomfortable enough already? But on the other hand, why would she wait with dating someone else? It wasn't if there was still something there between them.

''You got to relax. We are just going to talk about the school musicals funding." Alice pointed out. His jealousy was annoying her a little. He was the one who broke up with her— not the other way around.

''Yeah, because that is what men like to do on dates. Talking.'' The passive agressive tone in his voice was getting on her nerves.

She wanted to tell him that it wasn't a date and that it had never had been the intention, but if even if it was or turned out the be more fun, who was he to judge? There was going to be a point in their lives where they were going to date other people and maybe that time had just come sooner than they had expected. If she was ready to move on was another question, but she had to at least try, didn't she?

**

''Can everyone move it? Holden is coming over in a bit.'' Alice waved with her hands nervously as the three of them were sitting on the couch, watching a TV show. Betty held out her hand which was a hint that Alice got immediately. She grabbed her purse and handed her a few bills so they would have enough to have some Pop's.

They stood up with smiles on her face, but turned around once more before they left to scan FP's face who looked like thunder— ready to struck lightning. But now that was none of their business. Betty and Jughead shared a look, asking the other if they thought the same. It looked like FP was everything but in a good mood but they weren't sure that was because of Mr. Honey.

Alice had just finished setting the table while FP kept his gaze on the television. Not that he was really watching, his mind was too busy freaking out over Alice's date. Her phone beeped, revealing a text from Holden. It was laying on the kitchen table, so he extended his hand for her to grab it. It could be important.

"Can you read it for me?" She asked him, as she was too busy preparing. He sighed quietly and took it back, unlocking her phone a second later.

''My cat is sick. My husband and I needed to take her to the vet. Can't make dinner." He read out loud, a small smile creeping up his face. Alice immediately stopped her movements, her eye brow raising dangerously high.

''What does that mean?!'' She gasped out, walking over to FP and snatching the phone out of his hands to make sure he wasn't making this up. It was true— he had really wrote that.

''That he's gay. And that he likes cats. Both the animal and the musical.'' FP said simply, shrugging his shoulders. Suddenly he felt a lot more relieved. He knew that he shouldn't act on these negative feelings, but it was so easy to get worked up over another man possibly dating Alice.

''I can't believe I fell for that.'' Alice sighed and let herself on the couch next to FP. At least she didn't need to put effort into food anymore. She looked a little bumped out though, so he decided to cheer her up a little bit.

''I dated a lesbian once. She was a very nice girl. We had the same taste in horror movies. It was actually one of the best dates I ever had, even though I was just a cover.'' He smiled cheekily.

Maybe it was because there was no pressure on that date. He remembered way to well that he took her to a drive in and that the first thing she told him was that she liked girls, that there wasn't going to happen anything but that she only did it so her friends would stop complaining. They actually had a fun night together.

Alice smiled and shook her head as she heard that story. That was typically something for him. She appreciated that he tried to cheer her up, especially in their situation. 

''Guess you're stuck with me for tonight.'' He joked slightly as he let his arm rest at the arm of the couch behind her. One thing was for sure, he absolutely didn't mind being stuck with her all night. There was nothing he'd rather do. 

''I have been stuck with you for sick months, Forsythe. That doesn't make tonight special.'' She joked back and gave him a playful wink. It seemed like their teasing level had reached the same point as it used to be. Maybe their connection was back.

Her heart still ached from him every single day but she was glad that things were slowly going back to normal. It wasn't if she was really dissapointed that her appointment with Mr. Honey was cancelled, she had just hoped to be distracted from the voice in her head that constantly reminded her of the man she really wanted to be with.

''Come, let's catch up on The Bold and  The Beautiful.'' He turned on the volume a little higher as he had been watching the show for a while now. It was his to go to whenever he needed a distraction and in just a few months he had soaked Alice into the soap too.

''I hate that you made me addicted to that show.'' She shook her head a she settled herself on the couch, ready for a few hours of binging. A year ago she would have sworn to never watch a soap opera, but now she didn't miss an episode.

''At least it's a reminder that life can always be worse. We could be like them, you know?'' FP pointed to the television. Maybe it was the reason why he watched the show in the first place. His life sucked for a while but at least he wasn't like them. Those guys never got a break.

''Yeah, our lives are pretty great.'' Alice smiled sweetly. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, another sign of her body and mind that she didn't want to be with anyone else. Only FP could make her feel that way. 

''That's because you have a great friend like me.'' He smiled back at her, trying to make it a really playful but his words were too meaningful to not feel there was more behind it.

Before she had even know it she instinctively scooted over to him and rested her head on his shoulder, while carefully intertwining their fingers with the arm that he had wrapped around her. He nuzzled his nose in her hair for just a bit before planting a featherlight kiss on her forehead.

The way they were cuddled up to each other was way too romantic for two people who had just broke it off with each other, but none of the moved to change that. They just needed it, it wasn't if they didn't know another way to be around each other. It felt so natural, just like it was meant to be this way.