I didn’t expect to get philosophical about baked goods, but these are the kinds of low-stakes conversations that I get to have with Trent. They don’t matter, except that they do because this is what real friendships are built on. Catching them on camera for our business plan is just the icing on the cake, so to speak.
“I don’t think we need a poll. Your assessment validates your claim, and even if it doesn’t, it does. I think we all want roots like that. Actually, we already have that root in the bag.”
We’ve made it to his car, so I take the camera back, get in, and point it back at him after I’m buckled. “Ok, I’ll bite, what are you talking about?”
Trent shoots me a smirk through the camera lens before turning to back out of the parking space. “Our movie night snack mix. We made that up together.”
“For the curious, it’s puffed corn cereal, Cheetos, and M&Ms mixed up in a bowl and consumed with water or a coke,” I say from behind the camera.
“And it’s the best movie night snack ever,” Trent winks.
I stop the recording and save it, turning off the camera to save the battery. “Even though this is for an audience, it’s fun. I’m glad you decided to go ahead with the project.”
Trent shrugs as he takes the turn out of the parking lot. “I was a little worried it would be weird between us, but everything feels normal. It’s just another thing we’re doing together, except this time we’re going to make some money from it. Did you upload the video from last night?”
“I did. We have fifteen subscribers already. One of them is the university’s chancellor.”
Trent opens his mouth, closes it, glances over at me, and then returns his attention to the road. “Are we going to get kicked out of school?”
“No. I’m far too valuable an asset for the university. At this point, not only am I drawing in grants, I’m also a draw for students. My classes are in high demand and students are beginning to come to the university because they’ve heard about me and want to take my classes. I’ve also been approached for several speaking tours during spring break and the summer, and unless they want to lose all that, they’re not going to kick me out because I have a porn account. And if anyone so much as breathes the wrong way toward you, you tell me so I can shut that shit down.” I learned that phrase from Trent, and I think it’s a wonderful way to express my very real ability to stop someone else in their tracks.
Trent shoots me a side glance with a half-smile on his lips. “I’ll let you know. Are you signing up for the speaking tours?”
I like how he trusts me to keep him safe academically. I think another person, and probably most people, would be inclined to try to deal with it themselves instead of relying on others more qualified to do the work. There are many, many reasons that Trent and I get along, but his incredible attitude toward his ego is one of the most attractive things about him.
Does Trent Bressler have an ego? The size of Jupiter. Does that mean he can’t see past it? Nope. He’s not humble, but he isn’t an egotistical asshole about it, and since I also have an ego at least as big as his, it makes our friendship comfortable.
“We have a business trip planned for spring break. It’s supposed to be the first time we trade handies, and we are supposed to be ‘making a drunk video.’ Obviously we can be somewhat inebriated for the video and should be, as long as we stick to the script we have planned. So, no, I won’t be taking on a speaking engagement unless there’s one in Cancun during spring break.”
“We’re doing the Cancun spring break thing?” he asks, surprised.
“I hope so. It depends on if we can get two hundred monthly subscribers this month. Otherwise, the business won’t have the money for the expense.”
“Better work that marketing plan you have going,” he laughs. “I’ve never been to spring break in Cancun, but I’m not going to say no to it.”
“If it’s with you, I think I would have fun taking a destination vacation targeted at our age demographic.” I’d have fun with Trent anywhere, but I know he would really like Cancun.
Trent chuckles and shakes his head the way he does when something I say or do amuses him. I used to be concerned when he would do things like this, because I knew it meant I’d done something out of the ordinary. I asked him after a week of living with him because I couldn’t take the pressure of trying to figure out what I was saying or doing wrong.
“Why are you laughing at me like that? What did I say that was wrong? I can’t learn to be better socially if you just laugh at me instead of telling me what I need to fix.”
Trent gave me a quizzical look and frowned. “I wasn’t laughing at you, Magnus. I was expressing my affection for you. I like who you are. You don’t have to change to become more palatable to me, and anyone in your life who thinks you need to before they can be happy with you is toxic as fuck and you should shut that shit down. Be happy with yourself and who you are, and fuck anyone who doesn’t value you as you are right now.”
And that conversation cinched his status in my life. Trent Bressler is going to be my best friend for the rest of our lives, and this might be two friends starting a business to him, but to me it’s a gamble on the future I want to have: me and Trent, togetherfor life.
Chapter 5
Trent
Magnus pointsthe camera at me while I’m looking over the apple offerings from one of the stalls at the farmer’s market. “What’s an apple’s favorite workout?” he asks with an adorable smirk.
He loves the jokes he never got to hear as a kid and gets this mischievous little grin when he gets to share one.
“Something with a ball?” I have no idea; kids' jokes were never my thing either.
“Acoreworkout.”
He and the person manning the stall both giggle at the joke, and I smile because it is funny, but he’s funnier. I remember about half a second into the inflation of my affection for him that I should look at the camera when I’m feeling feelings for him, so I do. I look at the camera and grin, and I shoot our fifteen subscribers a wink.
