“Happy New Year,” I exclaim, breaking the tranquil stillness surrounding us.
He grins but doesn’t miss the opportunity to tease me, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
I plop down beside him, rolling my eyes playfully. “Why? You keeping tabs on me?”
“Just saying…” he shrugs nonchalantly, “… it’s not like you to skip, especially on the first day back.”
I can’t help but mockingly retort, “Yes, Daddy,” as I reach into the bag to grab a bagel.
A shudder of distaste crosses Howie’s face as he scowls, “Ugh… fuck no, don’t call me that,” he snaps, and I can’t stop the laugh from bursting free.
“Sorry. But don’t give me a hard time for skipping just once,” I say, rolling my eyes.
He raises an eyebrow and leans in, his curiosity piqued. “So, why are you here?” he asks, his voice laced with genuine concern.
“I need some advice,” I finally admit, feeling the weight of my dilemma pressing on me.
“All right, shoot,” Howie says, taking a casual bite of his bagel.
“I told you about my boyfriend,” I begin cautiously, my words laden with uncertainty.
“The cop, yeah,” he responds between bites.
“Yeah, him,” I confirm. “Well, he has two best friends, and they’re together.”
Dio, am I really just going to tell Howie I am in love with three men at the same time?
Howie raises an eyebrow, his interest growing. “Cops too?”
“One of them,” I confirm with a nod.
He leans in slightly, clearly intrigued. “And what about them?”
I hesitate for a moment before quietly admitting, “They seem to be... interested in me as well.”
“Guy and girl or two guys?” he asks.
“Two guys,” I admit.
He takes a moment to digest this information before shrugging casually. “Well, love is love.”
I can’t help but sigh, my worries still lingering. “It’s not about them being together. It’s about them wanting to date me too,” I clarify, not understanding how he can be so casual.
Howie offers a nonchalant response, “Again, love is love. Some people don’t even manage to find the one. What does the initial boyfriend think about his friends hitting on you?”
“He told me that he’d be open for me to explore my feelings. That I would not lose him over this,” I explain, still uncertain. I offer a hesitant shrug, my doubts surfacing. “Although, I’m not quite sure if he really means it.”
Howie leans in, his gaze probing deeper. “You don’t trust him on that?” he asks, searching my eyes.
“No, I do trust him,” I clarify. “It’s just…”
He interrupts with a straightforward question, “What’s the issue then?”
I shoot him a look, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “Do you realize what I just said? I might end up in a relationship with three guys, two who are already together. And all you can say is, ‘What’s the issue then?’”
Howie maintains his calm demeanor as he continues to dig deeper. “Do you want to be with them?” he asks, cutting through the confusion.
I pause, wrestling with my emotions, “I’m not sure. I don’t even feel worthy of Joshua. I can’t figure out why the other two would be interested in me.”
