Chapter 2
Samuel Hayes couldn't have timed it better. I slid my arm through his.
"This is Samuel Hayes, my best friend. We were literally born on the same day.
"We're all friends here, so I invited him to join us."
Eric shoved Jessica aside and yanked me over to him.
"Natalie! What the hell are you doing hanging all over another guy?"
I blinked innocently. "He isn't 'another guy.' He's family."
My voice turned syrupy sweet. "You're not getting jealous of my guy bestie, are you? Don't be so possessive."
I added, "I don't even see him as a man."
As I spoke, I pulled my arm from Eric's grasp and gave Samuel's bicep a friendly pat.
"Natalie, get back here!" Eric's face went completely dark.
Against Samuel, whose striking looks made Eric seem painfully average, the "not a man" defense was laughably thin.
Samuel took my hand, making sure the silver ring on his pinkie was visible.
"Don't get the wrong idea," he said. "We practically grew up sharing a bed. If I was into Natalie, you would've never even been in the picture."
His voice was pleasant but emotionless.
Still, he was provoking Eric.
Eric turned red with rage, glaring daggers at Samuel.
"Natalie has a boyfriend now. Can't you keep your distance?"
Before Samuel could respond, I smiled, "Eric, why are you being so selfish?
"I can't abandon my best friend just because I have a boyfriend."
Eric clenched his fists. "He's a man!"
"And I don't see him that way," I chirped, waving a hand. "Jess, will you talk some sense into him?
"Why is he acting like such a jealous little boy?"
Jessica, standing behind Eric, seemed to snap out of a trance.
She stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around Eric's neck with an awkward laugh. "Let's just go hiking.
"You can't keep your childhood friends waiting here all day."
But Eric was too angry to play along.
He suddenly rushed over, pointing at the ring on Samuel's finger. "Why does he have your ring?"
I tapped my temple. "Oh, that! He said he liked it.
"So I let him borrow it for a few days. No big deal."
"We've always shared everything," Samuel added seamlessly. "What's hers is mine."
Eric looked like he was about to spontaneously combust. "That's our couple's ring!" he roared, his voice cracking.
"Natalie, are you cheating on me?"
His eyes were red and watery, like he was about to cry.
My smile vanished. I lifted my chin. "Then what's that around Jessica's neck?"
Eric spun and ripped the ring off her chain.
"When did you take my ring?" he demanded.
A red welt bloomed on Jessica's neck. Her eyes watered. "You're killing me.
"It's just a stupid ring. Why are you so upset?"
The two guys behind Jessica backed her up. "Eric, that's too much.
"We used to share socks back in the day!"
I licked my lips and asked with a smile, "Did you share girlfriends too?"
The two guys shut up, their faces flushing.
Eric quickly slipped his ring back on his finger. "See, Nat? I got it back," he said, his voice pleading.
"Now put yours back on. Please? Don't be mad."
Seeing his desperation, I decided to throw him a bone.
I slid my ring back on my finger, and Eric sagged with relief.
The rest of the hike, he was a different person. He carried my bag and handed me pieces of fruit.
He hovered around me like he did in the early days when he was still trying to win me over.
He was so focused on me that he completely ignored Jessica every time she tried to talk to him.
She just trailed behind us, clenching her fists and glaring daggers at my back.
"Nat," Eric said quietly when we had a moment alone. "I know you're just doing this because of me and Jessica. You hired that guy to make me jealous.
"It was my fault for making you feel that way. I swear I'll keep my distance from her from now on."
I just looked at him, saying nothing.
"How much did you pay that actor?" he added. "I'll cover it.
"Just don't ever let me see him again."
He was already typing on his phone. A moment later, mine buzzed. A Venmo notification popped up on my screen: [Eric sent you $2,000.] The note attached read: [A gift.]
I looked at my phone and threw myself into his arms, shooting Jessica a look.
"Baby, why did you send me so much money?" I cooed.
Jessica hurried over, her voice dripping with jealousy. "How much did he send?
"You know, he used to drop ten, even twenty grand on me without blinking.
She tried to peek at my phone screen and then looked at Eric. "Hey! Don't forget your bro!
"Where's mine?"
Eric glanced nervously at my expression. "Jessica, just stop," he said, annoyed. "Can't you see you're upsetting Natalie?"
Her face fell. She suddenly crumpled to the ground, clutching her ankle.
"Eric, you have to carry me," she wailed, her voice thick with tears. "I twisted my ankle. It hurts so much. I can't walk."
I looked up to see the two guys had already moved far ahead.
Jessica shot me a challenging look.
"Eric, did you forget how I led you home when you got lost in the mountains?
"We're just friends. I'm sure your girlfriend won't mind you helping me out, right?"
Eric, who had been so firm just moments before, completely melted at the sight of her tears. He looked at me, torn. "Nat...
"Jess is my friend."
Jessica whimpered, "You wouldn't just leave me here to die, would you?"
I beamed at her, "Of course not."
I crooked a finger at Samuel. He immediately understood and crouched in front of me.
"I'm actually getting pretty tired myself," I said, climbing onto his strong back. "See you guys at the summit."
As Samuel started walking, effortlessly carrying me, I called back over my shoulder.
"You guys are just friends. Pure friendship! I get it!"
Eric abandoned Jessica on the ground and scrambled after us.
"Nat! I thought we agreed. No more actors!"
I put on my most innocent voice. "Eric, Samuel really is my best friend. Why won't you believe me?"
By the time we reached the summit, Eric had completely given up.
He didn't even glance at Jessica.
Later, while everyone was grabbing lunch, Jessica cornered me with a dark expression.
She hissed, "I really underestimated you.
"But if you think hiring some pretty boy to make Eric jealous will make him choose you over me? Nice try."
I dropped my smile, retorting, "You're in love with him, aren't you?"