If she comes over to my house, I'll ask her whether she wants me to call you or not.”

My shoulders slumped, but I nodded. While I didn't like her answer, at least I understood it.

“What happened?" Zofi asked. "What did you do?"

I sighed and shook my head. "She's your best friend. I'm sure she'll decide what she wants to tell you. But this one you can't get from me."

I turned around and walked back to the table.

It was "Zofi and Sam Wednesday", but neither girl came over to my house that afternoon. Zofi didn't call me, either. But that didn't mean I spent the afternoon alone.

Normally in such situations I'd talk to Belle, but I knew better than to light a match and toss it into a canister of gasoline like that.

Instead, I called Alice.

“Hey,” I began with a weary sigh.

“I know you're probably busy, but--"

“I'LL be right over," she interrupted, and then the line went dead before I could say anything else.

Alice showed up ten minutes later, gave me a fist bump, and sauntered into my family room. She dropped her backpack on the floor and slumped onto the couch. Her left arm went to the armrest and her right draped across the top of the backrest. And she kicked her legs up along the length of the couch before fixing me with an interrogative look. "So the way I see it, there are two most likely scenarios. Stop me if one of them is correct."

Curious, I folded my arms over my chest and sat down on the padded armrest of the armchair, not the seat.

"So we both know Sam's in love with you, only she doesn't have the time to be in love with you with her busy schedule and all. Spending all this quality intimate time together ever since she moved in stripped down the walls she'd put up from actually being in love with you, but then you realized how much things were escalating and you tapped the brakes, kicked her out of the house Saturday morning, cut her off for a few days, and now she’s mad at you."

I frowned and arched both eyebrows expectantly, leading, “Or...

"Or..." Alice scrutinized me with narrowed eyes for an extra few beats.

“Or spending all this quality intimate time together ever since she moved in made YOU fall in love with her, you tried to tap the brakes but couldn't help yourself because... well... Sam's kinda awesome... and you admitted you were falling in love with her and she went running for the hills."

I scowled and Looked away.

“Thought so." Alice smirked. "I have to admit: Can't really blame you.

Like I said: Sam's kinda awesome. She's perfect for you. You love strong women who take charge, but that little Master/Slut thing she does is just... nngh!... She's super-smart, independent, obviously has no problem sharing you with her friends, fuckin’ sexy, and for the most part requires no relationship maintenance because she just wants to go off and do her own thing most of the time. It makes sense that you'd fall in love with her."

"I wish I hadn't." I rubbed my face with my right hand. "This whole thing is a disaster. Years of building up the BTC into this incredible circle of friendship is about to get flushed down the toilet because I can't keep my emotions in check."

Alice frowned. "Why would you think this would flush the BTC down the toilet?"

“Neevie and Belle, for starters. Mari, a little bit. You and Zofi are the only two I can trust to not be bothered by this. Zofi would wish for Sam's happiness--"

"As would I," Alice confirmed with a nod.

“But I think you're overblowing the way the girls would react. Mari doesn't believe she has a real shot with you anyway. Neevie's not competitive with Sam anymore