One More Lie

In which he fell for his best friend.
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"Can I tell you something?"
"Since when do you ask for permission?"
She smiled.

"I think we'd make a terrible couple."
He laughed.

"That's random."
"I mean it."
"Why?"

"We'd argue."
"Probably."

"You'd get on my nerves."
"I already do."

"You'd never listen."
"I'd pretend not to."
She laughed.

"See?"
He smiled too.

Neither of them noticed when the laughter faded.

"You know what's funny?" she asked.
"What?"
"I've never once worried about losing you."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Lucky you.
Because I've spent years worrying about exactly that.

Instead, he simply nodded.
"Yeah."

She rested her head on his shoulder.
The easiest thing in the world for her.
The hardest thing in the world for him.

Friendship has strange rules.
It gave him permission to stay close.
Just never close enough.
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