"I dunno," I shrugged. "I felt a little dumb for being a tiny bit attracted to him."
Understatement of the year. Nothing was tiny about my attraction to him, especially after last night.
Ryan could see right through me. "Sure didn't sound like you were only a 'tiny bit attracted to him' last night," he scoffed.
I glared at him. "Anyway, I mean because he's a fuckboy. I don't fall for fuck boys. I eat fuck boys for dinner."
"Sure sounded like -"
"Okay, stop!" I reached over to punch Ryan before we broke out in matching giggles.
"I was horny, okay? And yes, that drawing he did of me helped...nudge me over the edge," I conceded.
"Is this just a hook-up for you two or something more?" Gabe asked.
"I mean, it's definitely not more. I am really attracted to him," I confessed. "Granted, he's not the same guy as when I first met him. But, I mean, he's a total fuck boy."
"Hmm," Eden hummed. "Barron said he's a different guy, too. I think those two are back on track. They've been attached to the hip since we've been here," she joked.
Eden wasn't wrong. I could see the brotherly love between the two of them. Previously, they only chatted within a group or, I guess, when they were forced to attend family gatherings. But seeing them over the past few days, you would think they had always been close.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. He lives in Helensville."
"Uh...hello," Ryan said. He indicated between himself and Gabe. "Longer distance here."
"Right, sorry." I forgot that Ryan and Gabe were making it work long distance, and they were closer than ever. Eden and Barron, as well, did the long-distance thing for a while.
"Actually, this is a good segue." Ryan hesitantly started. He turned to Gabe, who rubbed his back encouragingly with a smile.
A sense of dread came over me as I observed the seriousness on their faces. I knew what was coming…
"I've decided to move to Philly."
My stomach dropped, even though I guessed what he would say.
Eden sat up on her knees, shoving her sunglasses up her head. "What, really?"
Gabe continued to rub Ryan's back. "Truth is, as much as I love visiting New Haven, there's no job that can match what I do in Philly there."
Gabe was a chief digital officer at a well-known e-commerce travel company. He loved his career and the trajectory that it had taken him. There was no way he would find anything in New Haven or surrounding towns that could compare to what he did.
When their relationship became serious, Ryan and I had several conversations about the two of them eventually living together. Ryan kept it light, but deep down, we both knew that if he wanted a life with Gabe, he would eventually have to move.
"I can understand that," Eden solemnly nodded.
Eden was taking the news well, but that wasn't a surprise. She had moved away from New Haven to New York at eighteen. We were used to seeing each other sporadically. Recently, though, she decided to move back to New Haven since her career was versatile, so I loved the fact that I had my two besties back with me.
But now, just as I was getting used to having Eden back, another one of my friends was flying the coop. And not just any friend. This was Ryan. He was more than my best friend; he was my brother. It had been just us two for the longest time after Eden moved.
"Hey, cheer up, Sof," Ryan gently said as he scrambled closer to me. "Philly's only a few hours away. We do road trips up there all the time."
"I know," I moodily replied. "Just let me be sad for two seconds."
Ryan rolled his eyes as he pulled me closer for a hug.
"I am happy for you," I murmured against his shoulder. "For both of you." I reached out to grasp Gabe's hand, giving it a squeeze.
"So when do you move?"
