What the world needs now

 "So, we're all friends now," Brick still couldn't believe it. There was only Matty to tell this to as they were sending prices to the sky with their price gun at the grocery store. "How is that possible?" Brick wanted to know. Harley wanted them to do something with Izzy and Link this weekend. It was like his world was turned upside down. Izzy was his ex. Didn't Matty remember?

"Oh, just go with it," Matty told him. "You'll be fine." He clicked his gun on the boxes of cereal.

Brick only sighed as if he might be the worst. "I like Link enough..but..but to have to be around Izzy." He winced hard, thinking of all the things she'd said to him that one time when he wouldn't do what she wanted. Of course, it made him sick to his stomach that he guessed she was getting what she wanted from Link. But still..

"Don't overthink it," Matty said as if he could read his mind. "You guys are in the  friend zone." He talked about how he and Valentina had been friends with someone that was now Val's enemy. He was not to speak of Lizzy ever again after Rosie's wedding fiasco. "We aren't even seeing Rosie and Chance anymore." He sounded a bit down about it.

"Well, why don't you guys come to Harley's then?" Brick didn't want Matty to feel left out.

"That's OK. Valentina just likes staying home these days." Matty looked at him as if Brick was too young to understand and didn't need to.

"Oh." Brick nodded.

"Some foods don't agree with Val," Matty said about her pregnancy. "I mean, she was off to such a good start. Like nothing bothered her. Then her mom cooked Italian sausage one night and it was awful. Just the smell made her sick. So, she feels safer at home. She just works at the bakery in the early morning shift. She's home by noon."

Brick guessed he should enjoy all this togetherness, but it was awkward as hell.