You, and Me, and Us

“No,” said David, unable to look Erik in the eyes. Unsure what to do next, he reached for the Viking-style mug containing his craft beer and lifted it up for a drink.

“What?” replied Erik, taken off guard by his friend’s one-word response. The din of the bar kept the silence between them from getting too awkward, as Erik stared at David, patiently waiting for him to stop drinking and start explaining.

There was no way out of this for David. Their burgers had just arrived at the table when Erik popped the question, and David had already gone to the bathroom a few minutes before. David knew a lie would have been his best option, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie; he didn’t believe in it. His answer had to be “No.”

Noticing his mug was empty, and the time was still ticking away, David decided he had to speak and said, “I really do love these mugs. The weight of them makes me feel like a real man.” There was more silence between them, as Erik refused to respond to that diversion of conversation. “I can’t,” said David, weakly. “I just don’t think I’m the best guy for you.”

“You can’t be serious,” replied Erik, eyes wide and mouth ajar.

“I don’t want you to take this badly,” said David. “I’m flattered, really, but I’m not the best guy for you. You can find someone better.”

“Who else would I ask, David? How long have we known each other? How long have we lived together? You’re my best friend – my soulmate – and you’re turning me down. Is this why you’ve been avoiding me for like a week. You were scared I’d ask you?”

“Please don’t take it this bad–”

“What I’m I going to tell my friends? My parents? You know my mom won’t believe it, but my dad…”

“He’ll probably say he saw it coming.”

Erik leaned back in his seat, and said with a blank hopeless expression, “How am I ever supposed to get married without you. I’m alone without you.”

“The day you get married, I want to be there to watch you, but I don’t want to be up there standing next to you. It wouldn’t feel right.”

“What wouldn’t feel right about it?”

“It just wouldn’t feel right.”

“Can you at least give me a reason why?” begged Erik.

David stared at Erik for a moment, trying to hold back his sorrow. Then he stood up from the table and said to Erik, “Because it wouldn’t.” David took $40 out of his pocket, threw it on the table, and walked out of the bar.

Once he got into his car, David pulled out his cellphone and called Stephanie.

“Hey!” answered Stephanie, warm and sweet.

“You couldn’t have told him to ask someone else,” spat out an angry David.

“What?”

“Why would you possibly think it’d be a good idea for me to be the best man at your wedding?”

A confused Stephanie took a moment, and replied, “It wasn’t my decision.”

“You could have changed his mind. You don’t see the problem with this?”

“Please don’t say it’s because of me.”

“Of course it’s because of you. You, and me, and us.”

“You didn’t say anything to Erik, did you?”

“I’m seconds away from walking back into the bar and telling him. I should’ve just come clean. It’s been eating me up all week.”

“You need to calm down, David. Erik and I aren’t even married yet. It’s not that big of a deal. We had a little too much to drink and got caught up in things. It happens, and no one got hurt. I’d like to keep it that way, too.”

“But it’s been killing me inside. I can feel my soul eroding.”

“Are you that selfish? Did you ever stop to think of how many lives you’d be ruining just so you can feel better about yourself?”

“I…”

“Grow up David,” said Stephanie, and she hung up the phone.

David shut off his car and made his way back into the bar. Erik was still at the table, and he was talking on his cellphone. David figured Erik had called someone to talk to after David had let him down in such a big way. Throwing on a smile, an important part of David’s mask he would have to wear around his dear friend for the foreseeable future, he quickly made his way over to Erik’s table. The bar had the usual cacophony of music and chatter, so David wasn’t able to hear what Erik was saying until he got close, then he heard Erik blurt out, “Stephanie, how could you!”

Erik lifted his head and saw David standing next to the table. David could see the fire in his eyes, but it was too late for him to walk away. Erik grabbed the Viking-style mug off the table, smacked David across the head with it, and didn’t stop until some concerned bystanders pulled him off. David was left with a fractured skull, and everyone was left with broken hearts.