100 Ways

85. It doesn't bother me.

"Hey, pal!" Eddie called when Barry let himself into Eddie's apartment. "Do you want to order takeout for tonight?"

"Um." Barry's heart felt heavy in his chest, and his gut twisted with worry. "Actually I have other plans."

"Oh?" Eddie finished wiping the kitchen counter, tossing the wipe in the trash, then looked up at him. "Do you have a hot date?" He winked, and Barry's chest constricted even more.

"Not quite," Barry said. "But, uh, I do have plans with Iris."

Eddie's face fell, becoming instantly stony. "What?"

"Possible plans. I told her I wanted to talk to you first. You're welcome to come too," Barry said. "Like I told you, we've been texting some. We're going to go to the roadhouse off the highway, not romantic at all."

Eddie started nodding slowly, not meeting Barry's eyes as he processed.

"I don't have to go," Barry continued quickly. "Not if it bothers you. It's totally not a big deal. We just haven't really talked face-to-face since, uh, you know."

"Since she confessed her love for you," Eddie griped, sending Barry a sharp look.

Three and a half weeks had passed since Barry told Eddie the truth about Iris and why she broke up with him. He and Eddie had made up and were healing from their break, but Barry had still been nervous to bring the subject up again. But they had to deal with it, otherwise it would just fester again.

"Uh, yeah, that." Barry rubbed the back of his neck. "Anyway, uh, what do you think? Do you want to come with?"

"No," Eddie replied quickly and firmly. "That sounds like a ménage à trois straight from hell."

"That's fine, that's fine," Barry said. "Let's order takeout for tonight, then. Which restaurant—"

"No, no, Barry, you can go," Eddie interrupted, finally turning to face him fully.

Barry stared at him. "What? But—"

"I don't want to go," Eddie said. "But I want you to go. It doesn't bother me."

"Are…are you sure? I meant it when I said I didn't have to go."

"Please go. I don't want to be that jealous boyfriend who can't trust you. I do trust you. And, weirdly, I trust Iris. I have faith that you're not cheating on me and that you will continue to not cheat on me. Does it make me a little uncomfortable? Yes. But I'm working through that."

Barry walked forward, taking Eddie's hands in his. "I promise I will never cheat on you," he said. "Not with Iris, not with anyone. I still choose you. And I'll still come back here to you." He paused. "That is, if you want—"

"Yes, please," Eddie said. "That way I can show you what you missed out on by not having dinner with me," Eddie murmured, leaning up and kissing Barry long and slow.

Barry's pupils were dilated by the time Eddie pulled away. "You know what, I'm cancelling," he said, reaching for his phone in his back pocket.

Eddie laughed and grabbed Barry's hand. "No, you should go. I want you to go."

"Are you sure? Really sure?"

"Yes," Eddie said. "Now, when are you meeting?"

"In a couple hours."

"Want to watch an episode of Breaking Bad?"

"Hell yeah."