“Shot in the dark, here, but are ya seein anyone?”

The dark-skinned beauty gasps in response, a little squeak that makes Charlie’s whole being melt. Thandi has been the object of his affection for years, and so now… he sent Dean in. To collect more information. Of course she would gasp. How utterly cute. She’ll say no, and Dean will mention he has a friend, and why don’t they meet up…

Thandi laughs awkwardly. “Sorry, Dean. I have someone I’m interested in.”

What? Charlie can’t even hear the rest of their conversation. The world falls out from under him. The woman he loves… has someone. Someone. Someone.

His heart, gods! Who ever knew such pain could exist?!

Charlie quickly nips away, clutching at his chest. He can feel himself one step away from a panic attack. The small impulse to find Thandi like always makes it worse and he stumbles into his office and locks the door before crumpling onto the floor.

He can’t breathe.

He’s gasping for air.

He’s crying.

Oh, fuck him sideways, he’s fucking crying!

Pathetic!!

The only option now is to move on. He can do that. He can. It isn’t as if he’s spent five years pining after the same woman. That they’ve been close for those five years. 

But if she has someone she likes, knowing her… she can’t be persuaded to deviate. And he hadn’t deviated, not once, never… but…

He’s hyperventilating on the floor, knowing that now, maybe his love is a problem.

“So that’s why you want us to help you?”

Charlie nods, sitting up in his chair, legs crossed with his hands folded neatly atop his knee. “Out of everyone I know, I think you and Dean would have the most experience in, ah. This realm.”

“Charlie, I don’t think this is one a’ yer good ideas. I think maybe ya just need to ride out the blow…”

“Ride it out? How could I? I’ve loved her for five years and I could love her for another five. I don’t fancy being a crumpled heap on the fucking floor.”

Ayanda sighs, glancing at Dean. “Maybe we just give him a confidence boost. Take him out. I mean, at the very least, we get a DD, right?”

Dean sighs, hand rising to press his hat atop his head, as if it’s liable to fall off at any moment. “Fine. We’ll work wit’it, but. I also don’t wanna see m’best friend cry like that again.”