Coupled up

"It's because Im in love with you" He says, with a straight face. Not even cracking a smile.

I cant help but to laugh at his remark, staring at his serious face. Hes putting a lot into this act.

He would never just admit it like that.

"No you're not," I tell him after my fit of laughter. I pull at his cheek once before patting it with a smirk, "We just had sex,"

"And now I love you," He says, immediately after.

"We were both desperate," I respond, finally deciding not to pay him any mind.

I grab my rag off the counter top, wiping off the spot he is at and continuing down the bar.

"I love you" He calls out as I get farther away.

I don't react, keeping my back to him and ignoring his shenanigans, stilling scrubbing down the bar.

"I said I love you," He calls out again, louder.

I can hear his chair scrape the ground and I can see he starts to follow me from the opposite side of the bars.

"Do you hear me? I love you" He yells over the noise in the bakery.

--

"It's because Im in love with you" I tell him, seriously.

"No you're not," He responds simply, "Because then you wouldn't leave me,"

"You know I love you," I plead, crossing my arms across my chest, "I wouldn't just do this to you, Tony,"

My arms are folded on my chest but I want nothing more than to wrap them around him and hold him for a second longer.

He pulls further away from me, his hands raking over his face, before they drop in his lap.

"You were using me," He says softly. Like a moment of realization hit.

"No, I love you." I tell him again, unconsciously reaching for his hand for comfort for the both of us.

He pulls it back, standing up and not giving me a second glance before he walks off from me.

My jaw drops.

"I said I love you," I call out from behind him.

"Do you hear me? I love you,"

***
Friends and benefits could never hurt a childhood friendship. Could it? How far will this go? What is there to expect?