When the two of us were alone again, I confronted Ian.

“What the fuck was that Ian?”

He was bigger, and could break me apart like a stick. But I didn’t care. I was seething.

“Oh nothing you want to pursue,” he said. “If you play along with me, we all could have a happily ever after.”

“What does that mean?” I felt a foreboding feeling in my stomach.

“I want you to tell Bethany you like her,” Ian replied. “And I want you to mean it.”

“Or else?”

“Or else I tell everyone how you really feel about Rosie.”

“You don’t know how I feel,” I bluffed.

“Stop lying to yourself Dex. You and I both know how you feel towards Rosie, and we both know what would happen if she finds out.”

She’d stop being my friend. She’d feel so awkward to be with me she’d avoid me. I know. That’s why I’ve never let on how much I liked her. I didn’t wanna lose her as a friend. The risk was too great. The payoff was greater, but I’d rather live with her not knowing how I feel as long as we’re together rather than live knowing I told her how I felt but lose her.

My poker face crumbled as I gave in to my fear. “Okay, you win.”

“Man to man, right?” Ian asked.

Fuck you, was all I said to him in my head.