Friends Become More Ch 02

***Alex's Point of View***

"Hey guys!" I said happily as I hugged my parents.

Wait, why is Dan here? "I've missed you so much!" He said, pushing in and kissing me.

What the hell? We broke up, why is he here.

"What are you doing here?" I looked over to where I saw Ben head off, hoping he didn't see that.

"Well, you family told me you were moving here, so I thought maybe we could reconnect."

Dan dumped me while I was in Tokyo and moved off to New York with the guy he was cheating on me with.

"Can we, can we talk about this later please?" I said seriously.

"Yeah, no problem." He said. "I just wanted to welcome you home."

The next day I met up with Dan to tell him I have no interest in getting back together. It's over, I'm not interested in him anymore. Besides, I like Ben. A lot.

I was staying with my parents until I find a place in the city to rent. I have two weeks until I start, so it's nice to have a little time off to get settled.

That night I called Ben. It went to voicemail.

I left a message for him to call me back when he can.

He's probably it working.

The next day Ben called me. "Hey Alex, sorry I was working all day yesterday."

"Not a problem. I was hoping we could set up that date."

"Who are you on the phone with?" My mother asked from the other room.

"Give me a second, sorry." I muted it. "Just a friend, Mom."

"Oh, okay." She replied.

I headed upstairs for a little more privacy.

"Sorry about that." I said. "So, when are you free for that first date?" I asked.

"Umm, I'm sorry. I'm really busy right now, and I think it may be best if we just remain friends right now." He said.

"Oh, I see. Uh, yeah. Sure... if that's what you want. I'm actually looking at a few apartments tomorrow, are you free to maybe help me. I could really use our advice as a city pro."

"Uh, yeah, sure. Just text me the time and first address and I'll meet you there." He said casually. He seemed kinda serious, not like when we were in Paris.

***

***Ben's Point of View***

Wow, I can literally hear the voice in the background. Is, is he literally calling me while with that guy?

Wow, I thought he wanted a serious relationship, but I guess not. But, that's fine. I'm not interested in dating casually like that. It's okay, I won't turn down a friendship with him, he is a decent enough guy.

I met him the next day and helped him pick an apartment. It's a nice place, good location, and the rent isn't too bad for the city.

I brought him along for dinner and introduced him to a few of my friends. We are pizza and then went bowling.

They asked if he was seeing anyone, he said "not really" so I'm not sure what to make of that. I didn't ask, it's not really my business.

A few days later I helped him move in, but had to leave early to get to the hospital for a surgery.

A few months passed and we became really good friends. I invited his family to my beach house in the Hamptons for the Fourth of July. His whole family seems moved and his nieces are really sweet.

In January, Alex told me he was seeing someone. "That's awesome, good for you."

"Yeah, he's really nice. I'd love for him to meet the group."

"Yeah, I can host a dinner party Friday and have everyone over, you can bring him!"

"Sounds good, can't wait."

Friday came along and everyone came over. "Hey Ben, this is Liam. Liam, this is my best friend Ben. He saved me from renting a terrible apartment and has shown me how to be a New Yorker."

I laughed. "Hi Liam, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you as well." Liam said as we shook hands.

I laid out a cheese plate for everyone to nibble on while I finished up making dinner.

Everyone was talking and laughing in the living room while I worked in the kitchen. "Hey Ben, need some help?" It's Alex.

"Yeah, sure. Can you stir that sauce please."

"Yes, chef."

"Liam seems nice."

"Yeah, he's getting along with everyone. He's really cool."

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks."

I called everyone to dinner, serving it buffet style (everyone brought a side or dessert).

When everyone was set I made my plate. As soon as I sat down, I got paged to the hospital. "Shoot. I'm being paged. It's the kid."

"No!"

"Aw, no, Ben!"

"Sorry guys." I got up. "Everyone please stay and enjoy dinner and the drinks and games. Have a good night."

"Bye!"

A few hours later I got out of surgery, my patient didn't make it. "Hey, Ben. Someone's waiting for you in attending's lounge." Said the OR nurse manning the board.

"Alright, thank you. Who is it?"

"Don't know, but he's cute." She laughed.

I got upstairs and found Alex siting in there. He stood up when I entered. "Hey, Ben. A nice nurse said I could wait here. I brought you your dinner, I know you didn't get to eat."

"Uh, thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"It's nothing."

The emotions got to me. I had known Kevin, my 9 year old patient for years. I tried everything, but I lost him. The tears flooded down my face. "I lost him." I managed to say.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay." Alex pulled me in for a hug. "You did everything you could." He held me close and let me cry as I shook in his arms.

"It's not fair!"

"I know, I know."

Once I calmed down, I pulled away. "I'm sorry for that." I said, wiping my eyes. "Where's Liam?"

"I walked him home before coming here."

"He's nice."

"Yeah, he is..."

He sat with me while I ate dinner. "Is it serious."

"I don't know yet."

"Do you want a serious relationship?"

"You know I do."

"I mean, we never really talked about it with each other."

"We haven't? I thought you wanted something serious, at least that's what I thought when we first met..."

"I do. But with my job that's not likely to happen."

"C'mon, don't say that. When's the last one you went out?"

"If we count our non-date, then you in April."

"What? You should put yourself out there."

"Last time I did, it didn't work out."

"You mean us?" He asked.

"Yeah, I mean you didn't seem to be ready for a monogamous relationship when we met."

"What do you mean? I asked you out, I thought we had a great time in Paris!" He seemed a little defensive.

"So did I, I only said no cause I didn't want to be one of many."

"What do you mean 'one of many'?"

"I saw you kissing that guy at the airport. I didn't want to be a brief fling or side thing for you."

"Oh my god, seriously? You really think that?" He was upset. "That was my ex, Dan, he showed up wanting to get back with me after dumping while I was in Tokyo and moving here with the guy he was sleeping with!"

"Oh." I feel so stupid. "I remember hearing a voice in the background when I called you after that..."

"That was my mom! I can't believe you thought I just wanted a hookup."

"I'm sorry, I feel so stupid. I just, I really liked you and seeing the two of you kiss, I was really bummed. That's why I said no to going out with you."

He took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. "I can't believe this whole time you thought that. I'm sorry, I didn't think you saw that kiss."

"It's not your fault. It's mine. I should've given you more of a chance."

"Why did you still help me with apartment hunting?"

"Cause I thought you were a nice enough guy, and even if you were to be a douche in the dating department, I thought we could be good friends and you could also use more people in the city." I reasoned.

"You're crazy. Even when you didn't like me you still were nice enough to be a good person. And you've become my best friend, you know that?"

"I've never had a best friend really. I mean, I love our friends but I've always felt like the odd one out, especially with working so much. And you've become my best friend, too."

"I'm sorry it didn't work out for us."

"Me too, guess the timing was off. Besides, it's for the best." I said, even though a little part of me still wonders what it would be like.

"I can't believe it's taken us this long to even discuss this kinda stuff."

"Yeah, maybe we are bad at being best friends."

"At least we suck at it together." He joked.

"Let's promise to be open with each other. About everything. Okay?"

"Okay." He agreed. I held out my pinky, he took it.

***

***Alex's Point of View***

I can't believe Ben saw that kiss. It explains so much, I feel so bad about that. It makes me wonder what could've happened between us.

I'm dating Liam right now though. I owe it to Liam to see where our relationship goes.

March rolled around and my relationship with Liam is going strong. Liam introduced Ben to a friend of his, so we went on a double date. I'm happy for Ben, putting himself out there. But I don't think the guy is good enough for Ben. I mean, what the hell is with his scruff, it's like he can't grow a beard.

Ben said they went on a few dates but nothing happened. I can't say I'm bummed it didn't work out, they didn't seem like a fit from what I saw.

One Friday, Liam had texted me saying he had a rough day, so he asked to cancel our date night. I decided to try and cheer him up, so I stopped at a florist and bought a bouquet of flowers for him.

Getting to his apartment, I knocked on the door. A stranger opened the door, a male stranger, a shirtless male stranger at that. "Uh, how can I help you?" He asked.

"Uh, I'm looking for my boyfriend?... Liam?"

"Oh..." the guy said awkwardly. "Uh, he's in the shower... I didn't know he had a boyfriend. I'm sorry." The guy seemed genuinely sorry.

"Oh, shit. Hi Alex. Uh..." Liam came out of the bathroom.

"Brought you some flowers, but I uh, I see you're busy. I'm not really interested in discussing this but it's over for us."

"I'm sorry, Alex. I don't know what I was thinking." Liam said.

"I'm gonna leave too." The stranger said. "I'm sorry man, I didn't know."

Stepping outside, I don't know where to go. I don't want to go to my apartment, I don't think I want to be alone.

I called Ben, an instinct. He's the first one I call about things.

Hey, uh. Liam cheated on me, it's over. Can I come over please? I sighed.

I'm so sorry Alex, yeah. Come over. He replied.

I arrived at his place and he poured me a glass of wine after giving me a hug.

"I just put brownies in the oven, I've saved the little mix in the bowl for you."

"Thank you." I smiled. "You know me well."

We sat on his couch while he listened to me ramble on about what happened and how I should've known.

"It's not your fault, he just doesn't understand how decent of a human being you are."

I took a sip of my drink. "Yeah, just like you did for the first nine months of our friendship."

"Hey, no. I never doubted how good of a heart you have. I just thought you didn't want a commitment."

"That's the thing, why is it so hard to find someone who wants the same things as me?!"

"You mean monogamy?"

"For starters, yeah. And marriage and true love... and children. I guess only fools fall for someone thinking they'll change."

"You're not a fool. You're just a hopeless romantic." He patted my leg.

"I guess I am."

The timer for the brownies rang. Ben got up and pulled them out, turning off the oven. "Now they say you're supposed to wait for them to cool but they're only good extremely fresh or after a day."

"Cheers to that." I raised my glass and took another sip.

"Don't drink too much!" He ordered. "I'd rather not be taking care of your drunk butt at 3 am."

"I thought the point of this wine was to get me drunk, help me with this break up..." I laughed as he handed me a plate with a few brownies.

"It's to help yeah, but it get you wasted. Besides, did you really see a future with Liam?"

"No, not really. We lost that spark. That's why I went there, to give him flowers and try to give it one last chance."

"That went well." He teased.

"Screw you." I gave him a glare.

"Too soon?"

"Only a little."

"Alright. Now, let's watch a movie and enjoy this wine and get fat on brownies. You can stay the night if you want."

"Thank you, I'd like to. I just don't want to go home to an empty place."

***

*** Ben's Point of View***

I made sure to keep towels and extra toiletries in all of my guest rooms for when friends stay over. Yeah, this place is way too big for only me but it was my parents, they left it to me when they died. And since I own and not rent, I prefer to have my own place and not rent out. Besides the townhouse, they left a good deal of money, on top of the decent salary I make as chief of cardio at my hospital. Plus, I love having friends hang out and stay over.

I know he showers in the morning, and since he doesn't have a change of clothes with him, I grabbed a large shirt of mine and some basketball shorts. Also, I opened a new pick of underwear I bought so he could have a new pair.

"Alex?" I knocked on the door.

"Come in." I heard through a muffled sound. I opened the door which gave me a direct view of him in the bathroom, the door wide open, giving me a full view of his naked body from the side. He was brushing his teeth and a look of shock spread on his face. My face is probably more shocked.

"Sorry!" I looked the other way. "I thought you said come in!"

I heard him finish brushing and rinse out his mouth. "I said don't come in." He laughed.

"I'm sorry!"

"It's alright, it happens. Besides, it's bound to happen with friends eventually." He made me feel better about it.

Still facing the other way, I explained why I came in. "I came to being you clothes, I know you don't have any. I just bought underwear, so you can have a new pair."

"Great, thanks. I was just about to hop in the shower."

"Awesome." I said awkwardly. "I, uh, I'll see you in a bit. Pancakes for breakfast?"

"That'd be great, thanks." He said as I walked out, shitting the door behind me.

That was... interesting. I mean, I've seen him shirtless before on the Fourth of July, and he's very fit, but wow, I wasn't expecting the rest of his body to be so nice.

I didn't see his penis, not that I want to. I mean, the placement of his leg and body, he was facing away from me. I did get a glimpse of his butt, which is... Yeah a butt. A really good butt.

"I don't care about his butt, shut up!" I told myself.

I distracted my mind by focusing on the pancakes. I added chocolate chips and made some bacon as well.

"Need some help?" He asked, walking in fresh out of the shower. Clothed now.

"Want to grab us some orange juice?"

"Sure thing." He knew where to grab glasses and plates to set the table for us.

"So, what do you want to do today?" I asked. "I'm not on call, so I'm at your service... to distract you I mean. Not that that helps." We started eating.

He laughed. "So far you're not doing so well."

"I'm serious, we can go to to a play, a basketball game, the park."

"Basketball game? You mean, use this season's tickets you never use, and currently cant because the season is over?"

"Is it? Oh, right If is! Wow, I'm so dumb." I laughed. "I should've become an orthopedic doctor and worked for the team, then I'd know the schedule better."

"Dang, to think I could've been friends with the team doctor for the Nicks!"

"Sorry I'm such a bummer."

"It's okay, at least you gave me a laugh this morning."

"I'm sorry about that!" I put my hand on my forehead. "I promise I didn't see much!" I said.

"Wow, thanks!" He gave a mock reaction of being hurt.

"Ah! I can't say anything right today, can I? I meant your fat ass was angled towards me and blocked the front side." I said with a little tease.

"Well, you can kiss my fat ass." He joked.

"Thanks, but I'd rather not." I retorted.

He put his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand and leaning in to me. "Has anyone told you that you're the sweetest person on the planet?" He asked sarcastically.

"The dozens of men that call me up every night." I said breezily, swaying my head to look out the window.

I love having a friend with a compatible sense of humor, we bounce off of each other so well it's really incredible.

We decided to spend the day binging The Crown cause it's rainy outside. We spent the whole day glued to the couch and tv, only pausing for bathroom breaks and meals. After dinner, we returned to the couch to watch another episode.

"Thank you, for last night. And today." He said.

"Not a problem. I'm always here for you."

"I know that. You're a good friend."

"You are too." I said. We're really good friends.

I woke up to the sun in my eyes. Did I fall asleep on the couch? Yes, I did. And so did Alex, whose head is currently resting on my shoulder.

He doesn't look that cute when he's sleeping, but it almost makes him cuter. He's not perfect, that's okay.

Wow, I think I have feelings for Alex. Like, feelings, feelings. I mean, that day in Paris was incredible, and that kiss was magical. But it hasn't gone past that day. We're friends, really good friends.

I have always wondered what could've been between us, but it's not fair to risk it. He just broke up with Liam, besides, he's probably way over me in that way.

We work so well as friends, I shouldn't let myself confuse friendship-love with romantic-love. Even if I have feelings, I need to let them pass. It's just not fair to Alex.