35. Friend

Ed saw directly at James's face while her wife still told the story. James sat right in front of Ed and Rose, he knew that look on James's faces. James's smile when replied to everything that Rose said was the typical smile that he had been known for a while.

His smile was fake, it just a pity smile and Ed knew it. He was looked deeper into his eyes and he knew that James wasn't in the conversation, maybe he sat right in front of him but his mind was somewhere else. 

Ed plays along, he didn't want to embarrass James in front of his wife. James came to the place that he didn't want but he still came. That was a miracle, also Ed wanted to know what happened to James today, he felt something weird with him today.

After a long story Rose finally finished it, she ended up kissed Ed and she didn't care about James who stared at them. She didn't know that James wasn't felt comfortable watched a couple made out in front of him.

James sipped his tea and tried no made that a big deal. He turned his gaze to something else, while kept thought about anything else. The furniture, couch, ceiling, anything just to made him felt comfortable. He didn't have a problem with it the first time, but when he broke up everything different. He couldn't stand to watched people showed their love and intimacy in public.

"Well, I will make more tea, enjoy everything that exists in this house," 

Rose giggled and went to the kitchen to make tea and some snacks for dessert. Again before she left, she gave Ed another kiss. 'Ah, what a happy couple.' That was James thought at the moment, but he could understand why they did that. They'd married not long ago, every couple would do the same. They wanted to a whole world saw how pure and strong their love was.

When Rose went to the kitchen Ed told James to go outside, "C'mon Jimmy boy come with me, we can sit outside enjoyed the view."

James obviously didn't refuse the invitation, "Sure, I wanted to smoke anyway."

They sat and enjoy the view of the night city. Ed house located on the edge of the hill, and when the night came they could saw the view of the light from the building. It's on the side of the city, calm and nice it suits Ed who always had pressure on his job. James now understands why Ed always wanted to spend the night at the house, cause it had a wonderful view.

"So, what do you think?" Ed started the conversation between them.

"About what?" James didn't know where the conversation goes. 

"My wife, you guys finally right?"

James now understands what he meant, "Rose? Oh yeah, she was perfect, good for you man." He didn't look at Ed directly, he was busy lighting up the cigar.

Ed let James enjoyed his cigar and poured tea for him. He wanted James to relax a little, looked at beautiful views without any conversation yet. The rain still poured down but it fine, only the sound of the rain who could hear around there. They enjoyed the silence.

After a couple of minutes Ed gave the courage to break the silence, "James, what happened?"

He was confused about the question, "What do you mean?"

"You had a problem right?" Ed glanced at him.

"Of course not,"

"Don't lie to me man, I know you didn't listen to my wife." James stunned, he wondered how could Ed knew about that. "Look, I knew you for a long time. You can't lie to me, I've known all the gestures that you had. And that is the looked that you had the night when you broke up."

"Oh shit man, that was sweet but also…disturbing." James sighed, he didn't know what to say. All of a sudden his pain back to where they were belongs, maybe because he fully sober right now plus Ed asked that question. "I don't know Ed… everything is become more complicated right now. I don't feel talked about it right now."

"Sure, but can I said one thing? You always had me on your side, and you can't hold it alone. I always worried about you man."

James speechless, he didn't expect those words came from Ed's mouth. He who always looked so firm and strong could say something smooth and kind. Now Ed, James seen another side of him. Someone that had been accompanied his job for so long and he never thought more about it. And fact that Ed thought of James as a friend, for all this time.

"Thanks, Ed. I don't know what to say," 

Ed sighed and smiled, patted James's shoulder, "So just said you okay." James stared at him, there was a serious talked from him. "I'll get the tea,"

"I can't Ed—" He said it right before Ed went inside, "—After what I saw today, Christy with her new lover kissed in front of me."

Ed back to his seats wanted to hear every detail of it. James had to turn another cigar before started with his story. He couldn't believe it with himself, it felt so hurtful for him. Remembered what just happened in front of his eyes, and said it through his mouth. 

It was hard for sure, had to picture his Ex kissed another man. James took a deep breath before started told the stories. Slowly, from the beginning and just to make sure Ed understand even though it killing him. Along with the stories begin, his tears dripped down from his eyes. It was dark outside so Ed couldn't see it, but he could feel it through the story.

"I'm sorry, I'll just get you some wine instead of tea. I think that will be good for your condition," Ed ran into the inside, he looked for a wine that he had. He knew James would be like scotch neat, but he didn't have it. So he brought the red that James gave him.

Two of them sat in the outside, just them, wine and cigarette with rain poured down from the dark skies. It hurt for James to told the story, but he felt a little relieved. It different when he told his problem to somebody else, felt like Ed could understand it more than anyone. He knew about Christy and everything that had been done between him and her. He never thought about Ed will become his friend, he didn't have a friend right now. Ed had come to help him at the right time, as someone that could share the problem, not between Edward and James but between two friends.