The Boyfriend

It was something they never spoke about again after that night. Just like the kiss on New Year’s Eve. It was better to pretend that it was nothing.

She worked on her report diligently. She worked for Ardor equally hard. She drafted their financial report, calculated their taxes, and managed their social media accounts. She designed their digital marketing campaign, she was doing everything. And he was growing more dependent on her, professionally, and personally.

He built another shelf for her. He organized all her books on the old shelf, and was going to take her out on another book shopping spree. Two months into her internship, he can hardly remember what life was like before her.

Kelsey had been calling him more frequently. She talked about her feelings more openly towards him. He found himself numbed, unable to return her affections. She cheated on him, he was sure of that, but he didn’t even care anymore. He couldn’t break up with her on the phone, he was not that kind of person. But he found it hard to make time to fly to Gastonburry just to end things with her.

“I’m coming over for Valentine’s Day,” Kelsey said on the phone.

“That’s … that’s awesome, Kells.” He hasn’t called her ‘Babe’ in awhile.

“I’m telling you in advance so you have time to prepare for a very romantic celebration, it’s our first Valentine together,” her voice was seductive.

He pinched his upper nose, he’s not the guy who would break up on their first Valentine either.

“Hello?” Kelsey checked on a response.

“Sorry, I was checking on my email … of course, Kells, it’s one more week, I’ll figure something out,” his response was cold and uninviting.

“Well … okay then, you seemed busy, I’ll call again later, bye babe … I miss you.”

He paused, “Bye, Kells.” He hung up.

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“Is everything okay with Nathan?” Kelsey called Julie right after.

“Yeah, he’s fine, why’d you ask?”

“I don’t know, he seemed … distant lately, I just got off the phone with him, I told him I’m coming over for Valentine’s weekend and he just … meh …”

“Oh, that’s great Kells, I’m glad you’re patching things up with him,” Julie said spontaneously.

“Exactly, I was hoping something like that from him, but he sounded like he wasn’t looking forward to it,” her frown can almost be heard over the phone.

“Really? Maybe he’s got a lot on his mind, work and everything,” Julie tried to ease her mind.

Kelsey sighed, “Maybe … well … I’m just letting you know I finally broke it off with Zach a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t tell you earlier ’cause I want to be absolutely sure, and I’m sure, Jules … I’m choosing Nathan, I’m coming over for Valentine and I’m going to sex him up like he never been sexed before, and I’m gonna smother him with all of me until he choked on me and …”

Julie laughed, “Okay … I get it … spare me the details, that’s great Kells, I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses, he’s a great guy … I don’t think anyone could ask for a better guy,” her voice was lower at the end.

It was finally over. She didn’t have to worry about playing cat and mouse with Nathan anymore. She felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders, but at the same time, it left her feeling hollowed again.

“He is, isn’t he? Well … in the meantime, keep an eye on him for me, will ya’? ’cause I’m not letting him slip to another woman if he hasn’t already … he sounded pretty cold, it’s weird.”

Julie couldn’t help but associate it with how he was behaving towards her, “I will.”

She hung up the phone feeling like she just finished reading a good book. A bittersweet end of something that made her feel alive, but it’s over now. She turned around, her heart skipped a beat. Nathan was standing behind her, leaning against the door frame with a somber look on his face.

“Was it Kelsey?” he asked.

“Yeah … she’s coming next week,” she was telling him what he already knew.

He walked over and sat on his office chair in front of her. “She told me,” he confirmed.

Kelsey was right, he didn’t seem too eager about it. “Is there something wrong?” she had to ask.

His eyes turned to hers, “No … nothing’s wrong … she wanted me to plan something nice for Valentine’s Day, any idea what she would like?”

Julie looked at him stunned. He was doing it on purpose. She lifted her shoulders, “Something romantic? A getaway, perhaps?”

“You think she’d like that?” his expression was unreadable.

She wasn’t going to stay for the torture, she stood up and forced a smile. “Any girl would like a romantic getaway … I’m sure you’ll think of something,” she said with a sour tone and left the room.

Her heart sank. She didn’t think she would feel the sadness that came over her after that conversation with Nathan. She thought she had just finished reading a good book, as it turned out, it was only a really bad chapter. What was going on between them was real, at least for her. It left her feeling like a jerk to have growing feelings for an absolutely terrific guy who happened to be her best friend’s boyfriend.

She asked to leave early that afternoon. She took a stroll on the beach to collect her thoughts. Whatever she was feeling towards Nathan was wrong, it should never be acted upon. If she was going to work for Ardor for the long run, she had to get herself together, and keep it professional. In a way, she felt like she had already betrayed her best friend, when her feelings for him were growing and hurting her at the same time.