Free The Embers Of My Heart by Christopher Nelson

air and all that shit."
    "Smells like cheap cologne in here."
    "You say potato, I say fuck you."
    "It is strong, dude," Drew said. "You don't want to suffocate her. I mean, Jess doesn't like the smell of smoke, but all you're doing is mixing it with cologne. Might be even worse."
    "Wait, you're going out with Jess tonight?" I asked.
    "Yeah."
    "Are you two officially a thing now?"
    "Do we need to sign some paperwork or something? Publish it in the newspaper?" He coughed and waved a hand in front of his face. "Yeah, maybe that is a little strong. I'll take another shower before I leave."
    I was somewhat surprised. Max had been pursuing Jess to some extent for as long as I'd known him, and I knew that she wasn't uninterested, but I didn't know they had actually gotten together. A sudden pang of jealousy hit me. I wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe because they had a chance to be normal, get married, and raise a bunch of nerd children. I could see it happening.
    "So what's in the cards for tonight, then?"
    "Well, I got us reservations at a little Italian place," Max said. "I got her some flowers and shit too."
    "I hope not actual shit."
    He ignored me. "Afterwards, I think we were just going to head back here and watch a movie or something."
    "Or something?" Drew asked. "Well, I'm taking Lisa out to dinner too, but we're getting a hotel room, so you'll totally have all the privacy you want. For something."
    "I appreciate your optimism," Max said. "But I don't think we're quite there yet."
    "Sounds like you guys have it all planned out," I said.
    They both looked at me. "What about you, dude? Any plans for the lady?"
    I shrugged. Nikki hadn't said a word about it. Neither had I. "Nothing planned. I'll see if she wants to do anything later. I don't like making a big deal about it."
    "It ain't about you," Max said. "Sure, we all say we hate the commercial bullshit. But you know, some women have expectations, even if they don't tell you. If you don't fulfill those expectations, you are going to get in all sorts of trouble. And righteously so."
    "Chill, Max," Drew said. "For all we know, she feels the same way."
    "Yeah, whatever," he said. "We all know Nikki. Oh, wait, we don't know shit about her because she doesn't talk to us."
    "That's not entirely true," I said.
    Max snorted. "We haven't said three sentences to each other all trimester. How about you, Drew?"
    "Maybe four."
    "See? She doesn't like us, man. She likes you and she tolerates us, but she doesn't like us."
    "Sorry," I said. "I don't know what to say about that."
    "Don't take it too hard," he said. "I mean, we're still friends and all, and it's not like she's actively trying to stop you from hanging out with us, right? As long as you're happy being with her, it's all good."
    "But if she starts being bitchy about it, you should cut that off in a hurry," Drew said. "Because making you pick between your friends and your girlfriend is a big flashing red sign of the crazy, and you don't want to keep sticking it in that, I tell you what."
    "She hasn't tried anything like that," I said. Not yet, at least, a voice in the back of my head said.
    "Good deal," Drew said. "Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to get freshened up and head out." He pulled a suit out of his closet and headed into the bathroom.
    "I'm jealous of him," Max said.
    "Because he has the most stable and reasonable relationship out of the three of us?"
    "No, because he looks damn good in a suit. The dude is ripped. You're not bad, Kev, but me? I'm just lanky and all limbs. Nothing fits me right. Suits just hang off me. I feel like I'm wearing a tent."
    I had to laugh. "Just get one tailored. You can afford it."
    "Sure, but even then I feel shitty. I have a few tailored suits back home for family social bullshit, but come on, I always feel fake. It's just not my thing."
    "You are dressing up tonight though, right?" I asked.
    "Maybe."
    "Shirt and tie," I said. "Just do it. Trust me on this."
    "You think I