“I’m serious.I’m incredibly fucking serious.Almost as serious as he is.”
She sighed.“This is a bad idea.”
“I thought so at first too.But now I don’t know.”And then I explained what happened the night of the wedding and since.The date nights, the dinners he cooked, the stuff we started talking about finally.
By the time I finished, I was at home, Shortcake on my lap and a beer in my hand.I said, “So it’s different.It’s grown-up.It’s—I don’t know.It seems kinda real?”
No.It seemedreallyreal.But I couldn’t make myself say that.Not even to Toni, who’d gone through the wringer of being gay in our small bullshit county right alongside me, all the way from fourth grade.
She was quiet for a few seconds.And then she said, “Is he rebounding?”
I winced.“No.I mean.He was engaged to this girl, but it fell apart like six months ago.He’s been single since.”
“Mmm, that’s not very long.Not for an engagement.”
“They were engaged for like a week before she cheated on him.”And I, like a complete asshole, had given him shit for not texting her back.God, my fucking mouth was the worst.
“Sucks.Though I’m not sorry to hear he’s had his heart broken.”
“He doesn’t seem all that broken,” I said with a snort.
“Oh yeah?”
“We ran into her at the Benedum on our first date.He seemed really over her.”
“Or he wants you to think he is.”
“Toni.I know you hate him.But just, try to put yourself in my place.”
“If I were you, I’d never speak to him again.”
That was undeniable.Toni could forgive after a while when someone fucked her over, but she sure as hell never forgot.One of the things I admired most about her; she never made the same mistake twice.
On the other hand, she couldn’t hold down a relationship to save her life.Went through girls like a box of tissues.
“Okay, but I did speak to him again.And hooked up with him.And went on a bunch of dates, and he spent the night Friday.”
“You let him use your bathroom?”She sounded so fucking offended.
“He’s super neat and tidy for a guy—you should see his place!”
“You bitch whenIuse your toilet.”
“Your bathroom is gross.”
“But you love me.”
“Look, stop.My point is that Taran has been really gentlemanly and really sweet and he wants to be my—my boyfriend.For real.”
“Does he?”
“Yes!”I insisted.
“I mean, he thinks he does.But what happens when shit gets tough?”
“What?”
“What happens when his Mom freaks the fuck out?What happens when his meathead friends find out and start giving him hell?”
