Questions Are Going To Come

Eddie is going to ask questions, and I can hardly fault him for it. I mean first and foremost, he's trying to do the right thing. That whole 'ask more questions than you answer' thing that's supposed to show that you're interested in the other person actually does work at making you seem like less of a toxic jerk.

And then there is the second part where I'm pretty sure that 'protein smoothies' was entirely the wrong answer and possibly not as common of a concept as I thought they would be and as they were in my time, drumming up a whole lot of questions as follow up because frankly Eddie might not have even heard of protein smoothies.

So fuck. I can't blame him. But fuck. This line of questioning might undo everything we've just accomplished here.

And all of that is why, for the first time in my life, I am unconditionally grateful for the arrival of Blake.

"Missed you ladies at lunch," he comes in, trying to be smooth and crooning and turn the tide of his rapidly deteriorating favor with Rachel, "And I would say the fact that it was my treat would have been a selling point, but really we all know the pleasure of my company would be pleasure enough."

Rachel clearly has little patience for him. He's barely said a word when she visibly rolls her eyes and cocks out a hip, turning to him and squaring off. Unfortunately for Eddie, this gives Blake her full attention. Unfortunately for Blake, that's the last thing he should want right now.

"You sure you wouldn't scarf all the food down quick and dine and dash, leaving us with the bill? That does seem to be your modus operandi."

I get the implication and so does Blake. Poor Eddie is left in the dark, which is a real problem because while he doesn't exactly suffer from F.O.M.O. he doesn't like being the only one out of the loop.

Something has changed in him, though. Old Eddie of this time would have scowled and turned on his heel. Old Eddie of a few years down the line might well have exploded. This Eddie just stands a little awkwardly, taking a half step back and looking like he's already resigned himself to second guessing all the progress he's made.

I catch his eye and try to intervene, but Blake and Rachel are already at each other's throats.

"Naw baby," Blake tries, "I can promise that I would be-"

"Yeah, I'm not particularly inclined to take your promise on anything there Blakey," she snaps back, not even letting him finish his thought.

"What?" he asks, his smile growing strained along with his patience, "A guy doesn't deserve a second chance?"

Rachel shakes her head, "If they deserve one. But frankly I'm starting to doubt you ever deserved the first one."

"Oh come on, Rach," he rolls his eyes exasperated, "You could look at things as a compliment. You could take it a little less seriously. I mean, was it really that big of a deal?"

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