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He pulls you closer and pecks your lips once more.
You giggle and place a hand on his chest, “I told you; I need to go.”
He sticks his bottom lip out. “Can’t you stay for breakfast.”
You look from one eye to the other, patting his chest. “I told you; I need to leave before Monica finds out.”
“She wouldn’t find out. No one has and it's been six months, come on. Please,” he begs.
“And this has been our routine to prevent anyone from finding out.”
“Isn’t there any way I could… persuade you?”
You smile and cup his cheek. “Maybe next time.” You peck his lips before slipping your shoes on and grabbing your bag.
You glance up, catching him watching you. “What are you doing?”
He shrugs, leaning against the doorway. “Just watching you.”
“That’s not creepy.”
He chuckles. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yep, Monica’s dragging me to hang out with you guys.”
He nods, “alright.”
You stand in front of him, placing your hand on the back of his neck, playing with the short hair there. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
He gives you a halfhearted smile. “Yeah.”
You peck his lips, “I put some extras in the fridge for you.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know. Bye, J.” You close the door and find Chandler reaching for the newspaper.
You open your mouth to respond but can’t find an answer and bolt down the stairs.
The sarcastic man runs into the apartment across from him and barges through the door.
Joey turns around, with a mouth full of food. “What?”
-
You enter the apartment with Monica in tow behind you.
“Come on, tell me.”
You scoff, “no.”
“Please.”
“No, Mon. I will not tell you about it.”
“Just one detail, that’s all I’m asking.”
You set your bag down on the kitchen table, “Mon, no. I am a big girl, and I am not going to tell you.”
She pouts.
“What are we not sharing?” Rachel chimes in.
You roll your eyes, “guys please.”
“It’s about that guy, isn’t it?” Phoebe adds.
“Mister best you’ve ever had?” Rachel nods.
You throw your head back and groan, “this is not what I wanted to deal with today.”
“What’s this about the best you’ve ever had?” Chandler chimes in.
You glance at him from the corner of your eye, “nothing.”
“Huh, I mean, you know that’s funny.” He starts off. “Because I heard something similar to that the other day.”
You shrug and head towards the fridge, “really?”
“Yeah, Joe was just telling me about this girl he’s been seeing.”
“Joey, I didn’t realize you were dating anyone?” Monica says.
He chuckles before turning to his best friend and giving him a hard look. “Uh- yeah, you know we’re not serious or anything, which is what we both talked about, and it’s been- it’s been fun.” He leans against the fridge.
You close the door and sneak looks at him. “Really? How interesting for you, J.”
Phoebe furrows her brows, wondering why the two of you are acting weird and then it clicks.
Chandler shakes his head and mimics her to keep quiet.
“I didn’t realize you were also seeing someone," you add.
“Well, I mean, I’m not seeing her, but we do have some fun.”
Monica rolls her eyes and makes her way around the kitchen to make dinner.
You turn and walk towards the couch, sitting down on the sofa to watch tv.
Naturally, like every other time you’ve hung out with everyone, you two sit together.
He sits beside you and you place your hand on the back of his neck to lightly scratch it and play with the short hair there.
Rachel tilts her head and realizes that’s your move.
You told her whenever you’re with a guy and you’re into him that’s how you would see if you two had any chemistry.
Phoebe pulls her back, letting Chandler tell her she can’t tell anyone.
“You can barely keep a secret,” she points at him. “I found out this morning when she left his apartment and it’s killing me, I feel faint.”
Ross enters and makes his way to the couch in search of you. “I found him.”
“Who?” You tilt your head.
“The perfect guy for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You told me you liked the guy from my office, and I asked if he was looking to date anyone, he said yes and asked about you.”
You uncurl your feet from under your thighs. “Ross, that was months ago.”
“Was it?” He thinks back, “anyway I was just thinking, there is a convention tomorrow and he’s going to be there.”
“I,” you groan, “you know I can’t say no to it.”
“So, you’ll go?”
“I,” you glance back at Joey, who keeps his gaze on the tv. “Can I think about it?”
He cringes, “I already bought the tickets.”
“Ross!”
“It’s not even a date, it’s just- it’s just a meeting.”
“I’m not there for him.”
“Okay, fine. Don’t go for him, go for you.”
You roll your eyes and shove him away.
“Hey, hey. Don’t shove the messenger.”
-
You walk into the apartment, immediately removing your boots and then aim for the bathroom to remove your earrings and makeup.
You exit the bathroom and pull your hair tie out of your hair as the door to Joey’s bedroom opens.
“Hey.”
You glance over at him and continue what you’re doing.
“How was it?” He asks, genuinely wanting to hear about your night.
“It was good, I learned a lot.” You spin around and gesture to the zipper of your maxi dress, “help.”
He pulls down the zipper, slowly, thinking about- “I’m sorry.”
“For what, Joe?”
He wraps his arms around you, pulling you into him. “For gettin’ jealous.”
“Why did you?”
He gets quiet and rests his head against your shoulder.
“I- I don’t know why you got so upset Joe, you know I’m not seeing anyone else, even though we said if we ever wanted to all we had to do was talk-”
“That’s the thing.”
You furrow your brows and unlink his hands, holding them once you spin around to face him. “What’s the thing?”
“I don’t-” His brows knitted together as he thought of the words to say.
“Talk to me, honey,” you cup his cheek. “I don’t know how to help you if you don’t talk.”
“I don’t want you to be with anyone else.”
You owlishly blink, “that’s- that’s not fair.”
“How is that not fair?”
“You’re going out with other girls and the one time-”
“I haven’t been with another girl for the last seven months.”
You jerk your head back, thinking back to when the two of you started this situationship. “But that was before we- Joey, are you-”
He cups your cheeks, “I really like you and I want you to be my girlfriend. I’ll even fight Monica if I have to.”
You can’t help but smile and wrap your arms around his waist, “let’s hope it doesn’t come to that because I really like you too.”
“Oh my god!”
Your eyes widen as do Joey’s.
“My best friend and my Joey!”
“Mon- mon, don’t-”
He puts himself in front of you, curling his arm around your waist. “I started it. We are dating, we’re together.”
She pauses to stare over his shoulder to look at you and then back at him. Her tough exterior breaks and she embraces him in a hug. “My best friend and my Joey!”
“This sounds vaguely familiar,” Chandler adds.
Rachel smacks his shoulder to which he whines.