Run, Girl (If You Can)

Alice wasn't sure what to think. Keeley sounded so confident in her assessment that best friends could be lovers. Roger was her best friend…but did she harbor any sort of romantic feelings for him?

He was attractive, though his handsomeness was a different kind than her ex-husband's. Brock's looks were flashy while Roger's were more understated.

She clearly cared about him in some capacity because of how upset she had been when he left last night. But as a friend or something more? She had thought it was because he was her most treasured friend.

Roger had never judged her, never pried, and never done anything she wasn't comfortable with. He was unfailingly kind and had been there for her whenever she needed him ever since the day he accompanied his sister to help with the furniture shopping.

Throughout the raging sea of changes in her life, he had been the single constant. He was the most dependable person she knew. But was that love?

Alice was getting ahead of herself. She wasn't even sure that he liked her; this was all conjecture. She needed to talk to the man himself but she wasn't sure what she would even say. It might be a good idea to get a second opinion first so she didn't make a complete fool of herself and lose the most important person in her life.

As Keeley happily chowed down on her crepe, Alice whipped out her phone and sent Marissa a text. 'Does your brother like anyone?'

The reply came in three minutes later as she was working on her own crepe. 'Why do you ask?'

She decided she may as well be honest. Marissa was her friend too; she would keep this conversation a secret.

'I'm wondering if I have a chance with him'

Alice wasn't sure how else to word it. She didn't want to say she wasn't sure whether or not she liked him and was trying to gather as much information as possible to make an informed decision.

'Hang on, since when are you interested in Roger?!'

'It was a recent development' she texted back wryly. She hadn't ever considered him as a potential romantic partner until about five minutes ago.

'Alice Wheatley we are going to sit down and have a conversation about this at some point but I'm not sure when because I've been swamped lately' 

She sighed. That wasn't an answer.

'Does he like anyone or not?'

Marissa replied quickly. 'I would have thought it would be completely obvious but I guess I'll have to spell it out for you. Roger never helps me move furniture on my jobs. Do with that information what you will'

Alice frowned, taking a moment for that information to click in her head. How could she say he never helps when that was how they started to get close? Oh. OH! He must have come to see her!

She was baffled. That was so long ago and he already liked her? He had barely found out she was getting a divorce at that point.

 All this time…he had been nice to her because he liked her? How on earth was she supposed to process that?

Her phone was still clutched in her hand and she saw what time it was. She needed to get going in the next five minutes if she was going to have time to change into her work uniform shirt. Quickly scarfing down the remainder of her crepe, she told Keeley she needed to get going.

"Do you feel any better?" her friend asked.

Alice honestly wasn't sure. If anything, she felt more confused. But an odd, hopeful flicker of something was stirring in her chest as well. She couldn't quite define it.

Not wanting to get into that, she simply replied "yes" so she could get to work on time.

Keeley smiled as she lifted her children out of their highchairs and placed them back into the stroller. "Good. You deserve to be happy, Alice. Don't let the past hold you down."

That last sentence seemed to carry a lot of weight, as if Keeley really knew what she was talking about. All she could do was nod.

As her friend dropped her off in front of the tour office, she thanked her for both the food and the advice before shaking all pesky, confusing thoughts free. She needed to focus. There were French speaking tourists who needed her.

Unfortunately, Alice had a really hard time concentrating at work. The entire time she found her mind wandering. At least she had done this enough times that she could practically give the tour in her sleep. It didn't matter too much that she was distracted.

During her fifteen minute break between tours she finally had time to think. If she was being practical, getting into a relationship with Roger would be a good thing.

 She wasn't currently sure of her feelings but she knew what kind of person he was. Alice was certain he would never let her down like Brock did. She enjoyed their conversations, had fun with him, and was comfortable around him just like Keeley had talked about.

She was twenty-seven and divorced but wanted to be married again within the next few years so she could have a couple of children. She wasn't likely to get a better offer. Would it really be so bad being in a relationship with her best friend even if she wasn't currently in love with him?

Alice had fallen in love with Brock over time because she thought she was supposed to. She could do the same thing again. But would it be fair to either of them? Doing this would feel an awful lot like using Roger and he deserved better than that.

Maybe if she explained that she was still healing and wasn't sure of her feelings but that he was still the most important person in her life it could work. Then he could choose whether or not to accept her as she was.

This was terrifying. If she used the wrong words…if she couldn't explain herself properly…she might lose the one she cared about most. Letting things blow over and waiting for Roger to come to terms with things so they could continue on as friends would be easier but it wouldn't be the nice thing to do. He deserved to know the truth.