Jack stared at his best friend, not knowing what to think when Alex slid back into his seat onto the couch in the Gaskarth’s living room after disappearing for a few minutes out the back door. He had that goofy little smile on his face that he was trying to hide, but Jack could see it as clear as day. He knew that Alex had been with her again.

“Where you been man?” Zack asked Alex looking up from the laptop that was poised on his lap, his attention being drawn from the photos filling his screen, ones he had taken himself and needed to sort through.

“I had to run that thing over to the neighbors for my mom,” He replied with a shrug, but as he spoke the smile that only Jack had noticed began to show through on his face.

“Wait, the married woman you almost shacked up with?” Rian asked, only just joining the conversation as he entered the room with a piece of some kind of dessert on his plate.

“Holy shit fuck there’s cake,” Jack squealed before launching himself over the back of the couch and into the kitchen where yells from Isobel could be heard loud and clear.

“JACK BARAKAT YOU STEP AWAY FROM THAT CAKE-” The trio heard before Rian questioned Alex again.

“Yeah it was Chris, but I was only taking over some food.” Alex replied defensively, not meaning to let the emotion slip into his words.

Jack was giving him a knowing look, and it was making Alex uncomfortable.

~~

“Dude I know.”

The three words made Alex look up suddenly at his best friend as the two of them sat in his living room after leaving his parent’s house.

“You know what?” Alex questioned suspiciously.

“I know that you’re still sleeping around with Christine, and I know that you’re in love with her.” Jack stated making Alex sputter and stumble over his words as he was left in shock.

“What?” He finally managed to get out.

“I mean, I saw you guys on Halloween getting all kissy between the houses and I saw that look in your eyes, the one you haven’t had since you were with-“

“Don’t bring her up.” Alex snapped knowing what Jack was going to say making his let his head drop into his hands, “Don’t fucking bring up Lisa.”

“You love Christine and bro she loves you back.”

“What are you talking about?” He asked lifting his head up to look at the person sitting next to him.

“She was looking at you the same way, but you’re too blind to see what was going on right in front of you. She’s married to that guy who could give her everything and yet she’s with you all the time, and you never found that weird?”

“I… Well I guess… It was just a fling at first but then we went to the park and…” Alex couldn’t even finish the thought as he got lost in his own mind.

Did she really love him?

Was he ready to admit that he loved her?

“Are you gunna tell her or are you gunna be a pussy about it?” Jack asked pulling Alex from his thoughts.

“I can’t bro,” He sighed. “I just can’t do that again.”

“Well how long do you think Christine will wait when she has her husband? She may love you, but women don’t like to be left waiting for shit like that.”

“When did you learn all this shit about women?”

“I read my mom’s girl magazines when I’m taking a dump at her place.”

“Of course you do.” Alex said rolling his eyes.