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We watched them go, and I realized how late it had gotten. I wanted to get the new sheets washed before we went to bed. I picked up the bags and brought them to the back of the house. I pulled the sheets out, stripping them of their packaging and the cardboard inserts before opening the top of the washing machine and getting a load started.??
Jon reached around me, taking the garbage and getting it out of my way. “How was your day?” he asked as he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves up.?
“Good.” I started the load and closed the washer.
The laundry room was long and narrow. It was wide enough to fit the washer and dryer next to each other and even had a utility sink in it.
I turned around. Jon had found the garbage bags under the sink and was shaking one out. He threw away the empty pizza box and started to clear off the counter for us.
“Hey, Jon?”
“Yes, Wren?”
I chewed on my lip, working up the courage to ask Jon what had been going on with the two of them lately. There had been too many tense moments to continue to ignore it. Normally, I would always go to Alex first, about anything and everything. But if he wasn’t going to tell me what was going on, I’d find out another way.
I felt on edge today.??
I had a lot going on. Therapy, moving into the new house. Whatever weird shit was going on with these two.??Jon and Alex had been friends for so long that their tension was starting to worry me.
But was it really my business? I had always been careful about not coming between the two of them.
I shook my head and moved to the boxes, pulling out more glasses and putting them up in the cabinets.??
“Hey.” He moved to stand in front of me. “You know you can ask me anything.” He reached out, giving me a reassuring squeeze.
“I know, I just. . .” I glanced to the door, making sure Alex wasn’t on his way back. “Something just seems off about you and Alex lately. Are you guys okay?”
He leaned against the counter, looking me over curiously. “Alex hasn’t told you anything?”
“Told me about what?”
Jon sighed, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. “I shouldn’t say anything.”
On reflex, I reached out, touching his forearm. “Jon, you're making me worried. What’s going on that I don’t know? Is he okay?”
“Uh, Alex. . .” He took a deep breath. “He has a thing for a girl. And I’ve been telling him he needs to make a move before someone else does.”
I couldn’t hide my shock.
“You didn’t know?” He tilted his head.
I shook my head.
“I’m sorry, Wren, I figured you of all people knew.”
“I didn’t know he was even seeing anyone,” I whispered, and turned to the kitchen sink, disappointment rolling through me. I didn’t know why I was so surprised. Alex had been relatively popular our senior year. After high school, when we all were able to get into bars, it wasn’t a new thing for him to be approached or for a phone number to be slipped into his pocket. I had never thought much of it because I thought he was always throwing them away.
Stupid girl, did you think he would wait for you or something?
“You like him, don’t you?”
I could feel my cheeks flush and frustrated tears burned my eyes. I nodded, afraid if I voiced the words I might fall apart.
“You should tell him, Wren,” Jon encouraged.
“What?” I tried to laugh it off. “No. If there’s someone he’s interested in, I’m not going to make things weird by confessing my feelings.” I looked to the ceiling and tried to blink away the tears. “Fuck,” I whispered when I couldn’t get them to stop.
“Come here.” Jon pulled me to him and gave me a hug, patting my back. “I’m sorry, Wren, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
