“Oh Clark,” Valeria said, still stroking my hair. “I’m sorry. I hate that feeling.”
I remembered how Valeria’s mom had reacted when she came out as bisexual and then felt another wave of frustration when I remembered my own mother, reaching out to her parents and helping them turn around. “I just don’t understand.”
“What did she say?”
I let out a puff of air. “Just the boring things. That three people can’t be in love with each other. That I was confused. That I needed to make adult decisions.”
“Give her time,” Valeria said softly. “She’s always loved you, Clark, and that’s not going to change. But sometimes, people need some time to get used to this kind of thing.”
I sighed and tried to bury the awful feeling in my chest. “Am I, though? Am I making a mistake, thinking Rip and Mars could offer me something real?”
“I can’t answer a question like that,” Valeria said. “That’s only for you, Rip, and Mars to decide.” She turned my face up to meet her gaze, then smiled. “But I do know how much they mean to you,” she added. “And I do know how happy you are when you’re together.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Valeria.”
“What do you say? Maybe a movie to take your mind off things?”
I pulled myself up on my elbows, then shook my head. “Actually, Rip and Mars asked me to the Steel Rose tonight. Do you want to come along? I think the distraction would be good.”
“Ezra was texting earlier,” she said, glancing at her phone. “But if you’re sure you’re up for going out, that sounds great. Can I invite him along, too?”
I nodded quickly, already feeling a little relief at the idea. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”
RIP
I walked into the Steel Rose with one arm slung over Mars’s shoulder and immediately cast my eyes toward the back, searching for Clark. The Clash was blaring over the stereo in the bar, and that cocky, flirty bartender was behind the counter, washing glasses while a woman with bright blue hair served drinks.
“I’ll grab the first round,” Mars said. “Meet you by the pool table.”
When I rounded the corner to the back, Clark was already there, shooting balls around while his friends Valeria and Ezra sat off to the side chatting. I felt a rush of happiness that he had brought them along, like he was letting us into his life a little more. It seemed like proof that Mars and I were on the right track when we decided to try to advance things.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Clark said, greeting me with a quick kiss. “Mars always encouraged me to invite Ezra along, and since it was just a night at the bar…”
“It’s perfect,” I said. “I’m glad you did.”
“Hi!” the woman with the shaved head said, standing up first. “We kind of met at the comic book store one day?”
“Back when you were still the Big Bad Wolf,” Ezra added, jumping to his feet.
“Valeria and Ezra,” I said. “Right? Clark talks about you both a lot.”
Valeria and Ezra shared a glance, then both smiled. “We’re pretty memorable,” Valeria said, tapping a long pink fingernail against her lip.
I laughed. “Sure are.”
Mars showed up with a pitcher of beer and some glasses, and everyone exchanged greetings. My memory flashed back to that afternoon at the store, when I had first come in to apologize to Clark and all his friends had huddled around, glaring at me. It was almost enough to make me self-conscious, but mainly, I just felt glad to remember Clark had such good friends supporting him.
“That bartender has a mouth on him,” Mars said, hopping back on a stool and drinking from his frothy beer. “He told me I was the second hottest guy in the bar. What the hell!”
I laughed, remembering how he had flirted with me the other week. “Sorry, buddy,” I said, mussing up Mars’s hair. “Can’t compete with my muscles, you know?”
Ezra giggled, then lifted the cocktail he was drinking. “Um, close, but not quite. If I know Gunner, he meant that he’s the hottest guy in the bar.”
I thought about it for a second, then laughed. “Come for the cheap beer and sticky floors, stick around for the cocky bartender, I guess.”
“One of my boyfriends works here,” Ezra said. “Trust me, Gunner’s a sweetheart. He just feels the need to shoot his mouth off at first.”
I cocked an eyebrow, surprised to hear Ezra mention having two boyfriends so casually. It wasn’t like the concept was new to me. Hell, it was something I was thinking about myself. But the guy seemed so goofy and tender, I just hadn’t quite expected it from him.
