Closer

42.

Brett knew he was crossing all the lines when he woke up with Eddy's arm held firmly around him, his face squished into his shoulder. All the lines both as he still had a girlfriend and as they were just friends. Eddy wouldn't want this. He wasn't even sure if he wanted this himself.

Eddy shifted as Brett moved away, but curled up and kept snoring lightly. He had kept him up all night, that poor guy. It wasn't his fault Brett couldn't be a good boyfriend, anyway.

He jumped when his phone rang on the bedside table, and the motion woke Eddy up as well. Brett put on his glasses and saw the picture he had of Leonora on her contact on his screen.

"Is it her?" Eddy asked behind him, and Brett just nodded, staring as the phone vibrated in his hand. His heartrate accelerated.

"Are you not going to answer?" Eddy asked, sitting up in bed. His voice was calm, but it didn't help Brett calm down at all.

"I don't know," Brett admitted, still staring at his phone when it stopped ringing and the screen went black. He knew he had to talk to her at some point, but just the thought of going back to her made him feel sick.

"You know you'll have to talk to her eventually, right?" Eddy said, crossing his legs on the bed. "I get it's stressful, but don't you think it'll be better to have all the information properly and take it from there?"

Brett groaned and put his phone down on the bed, running a hand through his hair.
"I know, I know, I just... I don't know, I love her but the relationship is apparently not working, but she's also pregnant with my child? I just don't know how to deal with her," he sighed, taking off his glasses to rub his face. "What do I even tell her?"

"Do you want solutions, or do you want a hug?" Eddy asked softly, scooting over to him. "You're crying."

Brett just let himself fall into Eddy's arms for an awkward side hug.
"Both please," Brett sniffled, allowing himself to be comforted by his best friend despite knowing he was being selfish, that he should be making sure Eddy was fine.

"Okay, here's what's gonna happen," Eddy began, wrapping his arms securely around Brett. He pushed his feelings aside, shoving them into hell where they belonged. He would not take advantage of Brett being vulnerable with him.

"She's probably gonna call again, or you call her," Eddy mumbled, stroking Brett's back carefully. "And let's be fair, she's probably freaking out."

"Probably," Brett agreed meakly, closing his eyes. He just wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

"But you're gonna tell her to calm down," Eddy mumbled, and Brett couldn't help but snort at the suggestion.

"I can't do that, she's gonna chew me up," Brett mumbled, realizing how stupid it sounded when he heard himself say it.

"She doesn't control you, so it doesn't matter if she tries," Eddy said firmly, still running his hand carefully up and down Brett's back. Brett nodded quietly, wanting to believe it.

"So, when she finally chills out, you say you guys need to talk and that you'll come home to talk to her," Eddy continued softly. "And that's all you'll say on the phone because you're better than breaking up over the phone."

Brett nodded quietly. It sounded so simple when Eddy said it. Maybe he could actually work it out?