Evie inhales, moving her face close to the steaming pie. “So damn good.” She breathes deeply again and I shake my head. Kate rolls her eyes.

“Whatever, Evie. You can’t act like pizza is sex when we all know you are getting fucked properly from your hot boyfriend.” Evie blushes and busies herself with dishing out slices. Kate’s teasing but her comment is irritating. Logically I know Evie and Tate are sleeping together but I don’t enjoy hearing about it.

“Change of subject please.” I glare before starting on my slice. Damn, this pizza is good. Evie moans as she takes a bite. Kate and I both give her a look and she wipes her mouth before apologizing. “Sorry! Sorry. I know I’m overly excited about the pizza. It’s just so good every single time. I’ll stop with the noises, I swear.”

“So, Kate,” I ask, “How are things going at work?” Kate looks up with surprise, a faint smile crossing her face, blue eyes sparkling.

“Very well, in fact the owners want to expand the studio space. I helped them put in bids on two different locations last week. We hope to hear back soon.”

“Will you keep the current location open?” Evie asks.

“That’s the only drawback… we are bidding on spaces in the North Valley because that’s the clientele they want to focus on working with, but if we end up getting one of the sites we will relocate and close the downtown office by the end of the year.” Kate shrugs and takes a drink. “I mean, it’s great for the studio and the owners have already informed me a raise would be involved, but I’ll really miss my five minute commute to work.”

“Yeah, that sucks.” I agree. I still don’t know exactly what it is Kate does but it’s something to do with the studio’s public relations and keeping clients happy.

Evie pulls her phone out and is grinning from ear to ear at whatever she’s viewing. She glances from the screen to Kate and I. “Hey friends, I hate to dine and dash but Tate just texted me. His client canceled and he has an hour until his last session of the day. I told him I’d come by and keep him company until he gets off work. Jon, is there any way you can drive Kate home? I picked her up on the way tonight.” She waits for my reply with hopeful eyes and I turn to Kate who looks a little put off by the request.

“Yeah, I can drive Kate home. Kate, you okay with that?”

“Yeah, fine. I guess.” She pushes her half eaten slice around her plate with a fork.

“I’m sorry Kate, but you know I hardly ever get one on one time with him during the week. If you don’t want me to go I’ll let him know I can’t make it.”

“No, no. Don’t be silly, I can put up with a ride from Jon as long as he promises no angry music on the ride home. Go, enjoy the sexy boyfriend!”

Evie smiles and quickly tosses her phone in her bag, pulling out her car keys in record time. “Thanks, you two are the best! Bye!” She’s out the door leaving us together in the booth, sitting side by side which is now uncomfortable because no one sits across.

“Well, I guess more beer for us.” Kate forces a laugh, reaching for the pitcher and filling her own glass. She gestures to my glass.

“No, I’m good for now.” I take another slice and shovel it in my mouth. I wrack my brain for something to say. When Evie’s around the conversation flows comfortably between the three of us, but when she’s absent it feels stilted. Glancing over Kate looks as clueless as I feel. Honestly I’m sure I bore her. Kate’s a fireball of energy and always has some crazy tale to tell. I’m just a simple guy never knowing what to talk about.

“So…” I look around the dingy dining space.

“So…” Kate adds.

“How about this weather we’ve been having?”

Kate bursts into laughter and I grin, glad to have broken the odd tension between us.

“So… how are you really doing with this whole Evie and Tate being wildly in love thing?” Kate props her hand under her chin and turns to meet my eyes. I don’t know how to answer her. I don’t want Evie to know that I struggle with being happy for her and Tate.

“Is this answer on or off the record?” I raise a brow.

“I’m not a reporter.” She smirks.

“Yeah, but you are best friends with my roommate…”

“Okay, now you’ve got me interested. Fine, no reporting to my bestie. What do you think of Tate and Evie?”

“I can’t find anything wrong with Tate and he treats her well so I’m happy for her.” The silence stretches.

“But?” Kate circles her hand, encouraging me to continue.

“But, I can’t help but envy them a little. To find someone so perfect who loves you unconditionally. It’s pretty awesome and I hate feeling like an outsider, but when they spend time at the apartment together I can’t help but feel out of place. The third wheel. Stupid, I know. Forget I said that.”

“No, that’s not stupid Jon and I completely get what you’re saying. I agree with you even. Shocking, I know.” She playfully nudges my shoulder. “I want nothing but the best for Evie. She sure as hell deserves it. I just miss her a little because now they’re together it cuts into the time we used to spend together. As it should, I mean, the man is fucking hot, has a humble soul, and loves her.”

I nod but stop to grumble. “I wouldn’t call him fucking hot.”

Kate snorts, “Well, he is. But don’t worry, I’ve never once doubted your manhood.” She pats my arm condescendingly and I shrug off her touch, finishing my last bite. I push my plate back from the table and wipe my hands and face with a napkin. Kate’s already finished.

“You ready to roll?” I ask and she nods. We scoot out of the booth and walk to my truck. I unlock the doors with a click of a button.

After Kate’s buckled up I turn the ignition and my “angry music” as she likes to call it, streams through the speakers at full volume. “No! Please God, no!” She screams over the speakers covering her ears with both hands. I laugh, turning down the volume to a more reasonable level.

“Okay, princess, your pick.” I wave to the controls and she rolls her eyes.

“Do not call me princess, I fucking hate that.”

“Yes ma’am.” I quip.

“Ma’am, what am I fucking ancient? How about you just stick with Kate?”

Chuckling I shake my head. I love getting her all worked up. Probably why we can’t spend much time together without fighting. Although, I wonder if she enjoys it too. I decide not to say anything to egg her on when she settles for a pop station I hate.

It’s a ten minute drive max. Nine, if the stoplights align in my favor. I lift a silent prayer and push my foot on the accelerator, anxious to get her home just to give my bleeding ears reprieve.

JON INSISTS ON WALKING UP to my apartment. He doesn’t like my neighborhood. I’ll never admit that he’s correct in being a little concerned. We don’t have security in this building and it’s in an older, recently revitalized area. The developers and city worked to make it safe but we struggle with crime. Remnants of the neighborhood it was before.

I fell in love with the apartment the moment I walked inside almost four years ago. The loft studio is clean and modern, hardwood floors mixed with white walls and floor to ceiling windows make the space seem larger than it actually is.

As we ride the elevator up to the fifth floor in silence I wonder what to do with the rest of my evening. It’s too early to sleep but I’ve no desire to go out. I don’t feel like watching television either. Maybe I’ll find a good book to snuggle up with for the night.

The doors open and I stroll down the hall with Jon following at my right. “I feel like hot shit right now. My own personal body guard walking me to my door.”

“Yeah, just don’t ask me to call in backup, ’cause we don’t have any.” He jokes. His gait is casual, but his shoulders tense as his eyes dart, alert and ready to take on any danger.