Someone's bound to get burned

“So, seriously, Tazer? You did this? Got down on one knee and everything?”

Kane was standing behind the bench press, spotting Jonathan who was lifting the barbell, puffing and growling from the effort.

-I wasn’t exactly on... one knee. Get the bar, get the bar!

Jonathan put down the barbell and sat on the bench, wiping his face with a towel. Patrick was looking at him, a puzzled look on his face. “What do you mean, not exactly?” asked Kane.

-I wasn’t really kneeling down. We were on the couch and I don’t know; it just happened.
-While sitting on the coach?
-Yeah.
-Woah, Tazer, props to you for the romantic setting, said Patrick, laughing. She was probably ecstatic though; she’d been waiting for that since the first look you shot at her back then, at this club.

Guys we’re slowly walking out of the training room, heading off to the showers. They had warmly congratulated Jonathan on the news that had travelled quickly through the network of the girlfriends and wives of the players. Jonathan politely thanked them all, shaking hands, receiving pats on the back and hearing a few jokes about married life.

“Buddy, you sure you are okay?” asked Patrick, sitting down on the bench next to Jonathan after they were left alone in the room.

-I’m great, why do you ask?
-I know weddings and getting itched are usually more exciting to chicks, but you seem really serious about this.
-It is serious, dude, I kinda just asked a girl to spend the rest of her life with me...
-I know, I know, said Patrick. It’s just...
-What? It is just what? Said Jonathan, suddenly getting tired of this conversation.

Patrick shot a glance at his friend and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, man. Your engagement... it is so fast. It came as a surprise”

-We’ve been together for more than one year, almost two, I don’t see how this is a surprise. It is the direction normal couples are heading generally.
-There isn’t only one direct- yeah. Forget it, dude. You’re right, said Patrick, shaking his head.
-It’s okay, Kaner. I don’t expect you to be all happy about it, you never liked the girl, said Jonathan, running his fingers through his hair.

Patrick faked an offended face. “What are you talking about? I love ‘manda! Especially when she tells all her friends at the club that I’m an *sshole two minutes before I get there” responded Kane with a pouty mouth.

Jonathan finally laughed. “I hope you’ll learn to like her eventually, I’d hate to see my girlfriend and the best man fight over everything”.

-Best man? Really? Said Patrick, stunned by surprise.
Jonathan silently nodded.
“Aww, man! Your bachelor party will be the best!” cried Patrick, high fiving Jonathan.

Patrick got up and was heading off toward the door, as Jonathan was gathering his bottle and gears, a sullen look back on his face. Patrick slowed down as he approached the door, shook his head and moved forward again. Looking up and pressing his lips together, as if he was already regretting his next move, he stopped by the door, turned around a looked back at Jonathan.

“Hey, Jonny?”

-Hmm? Muffled Jonathan, as he was slipping his head through his hoodie.
-There has to be more to a best man job than throwing the coolest bachelor party ever, right?
-Already backing off at the thoughts of the responsibilities? Said Jonathan, lightly chuckling.

Patrick was completely serious, staring with intensity at Jonathan. He stopped his motion and looked back at his friend, puzzled.

“What is going on, Kaner? You’ve been acting weird all morning.”

-Weird? Coming from the guy who proposed to his girlfriend completely out of the blue and hangover, it’s kind of an understatement...
-Could you just drop it and be happy for me for a sec, dude, seriously, hissed Jonathan.

Jonathan had turned his back away from his friend as he heard Patrick says “Would it change anything if I’d tell you they broke up?”

-What are you talking about? Mumbled Jonathan, grabbing his towel.
-Bollig. And Chloé. They broke up. I just thought you should know.

Chloé was gone,she was gone. I had screwed up everything. EVERYTHING. There was no chance to mend things up. What do you do when you had your chance but you dropped it. She obviously wanted nothing to do with the *sshole that I was anymore. I had to leave her life, let her live her and live mine.

Jonathan turned around, his brows frowned and his mouth slightly opened, taken aback from the statement, but Patrick had already fled away.

Notes