I learned so much about everyone here.
Like how Levi used to be a professional hockey player, but had moved here last year after falling in love with Mateo and Avery.
I discovered that Mateo had a mustache care routine and hearing him talk through the process had me reeling in a fit of giggles.
Austin, despite the fact that he worked too much, was a good guy. Everyone liked to give him shit for his overreaction to his sister dating, but he’d put in the work to make up for it. Plus, he really could do almost anything. He also shared my intense hatred for bugs and I learned that Dallas was always the exterminator growing up.
Evie was a dream. She worked hard to run her own business and had the best taste in fashion. More than once, I’d gone down an online shopping rabbit hole because of her—even though my clothing preferences were completely different.
Avery had truly become a friend. I’d made a deal with her a few days ago that when I left, we’d still talk.
Out of all the surprises since coming to Whynot, June and Dallas were the best. I wasn’t sure I’d ever met a more thoughtful person than Dallas. And June?
When I thought about her, it was like a ray of sunshine on my darkest days.
I couldn’t imagine not seeing them after this week. Finally, I had people I connected with. I didn’t feel so alone.
Would I be able to find that again if I left?
My tears slowly dried as I switched my screen over to my current animation.
I was damn proud of it.
I’d spent so much time on it. I’d done my best to keep it a secret from everyone else, too. Dallas and June had prodded me about it, but I always kept my descriptions vague.
I wanted to surprise them.
After storyboarding, I’d spent time rigging the 3D elements, and from there I’d built everything. I was still polishing the edges, but it was coming together.
A polite knock had me spinning in my chair, but I already knew it was Avery. She did the same three raps every single time.
She immediately frowned when she saw my face. “Oh no. What’s wrong? What happened?”
The tears came back and I forced a blubbery smile. “I got an interview with a big studio in San Francisco.”
“Oh my god,that’s exciting.” Her smile faltered when she saw the tears. “Hmmm. I think I’m gonna introduce you to the breakdown couch, except it can’t be the real one because that’s at June’s. So we’re gonna make this work.”
I had no idea what the breakdown couch was, but it did sound like something I needed in my life.
She shut the door and went to the plush couch against the wall. She patted the other cushion. I wiped my face as I tried to pull myself together, then plopped down next to her.
“Okay,” Avery breathed out. “We’re going to forget for a few minutes that June is one of my best friends and Dallas is my brother. I’m going to forget that I really want the three of you to be happy and just focus onyou.What are youfeeling?”
I wiped away more tears. “Are you sure?” I whispered. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to keep things to yourself.”
Avery shook her head, insistent. “No, it’s okay. Truly. What we say on Breakdown Couch 2.0 stays in this room.”
I crossed my legs and grabbed a pillow, clutching it as everything flowed out. “My life has always been in LA. I’veworked so hard to get the job of my dreams and I honestly didn’t even remember signing up for this residency until you called. I’ve been so focused on being the best and pushing myself. That’s all I amounted to, and I lost it. So now for a studio like this one to reach out . . . It’s thedreamdream job. My dream job’s dream job. I’d be in a new city where I can still start over and would have more opportunities . . .”
Avery tucked a strand of blue behind her ear. “But. . .”
“But I feel like I’ve been falling in love withbothof them since before they even kissed me.” I exhaled, my temples throbbing as more tears spilled free and the weight on my shoulders lifted. “It’s been so easy to forget the real world here. It’s beautiful, everyone has been wonderful, and there’s really scary bugs but there’s a really gorgeous kind man that will rescue me from them. This wasn’t supposed to happen. God, I swear this was not supposed to be how my life went. ” I threw up my hands, hating that more hot tears streamed down my face again. “It was supposed to be casual. I wasn’t supposed to come here and meet someone, let alone two someones. I thought I was safe from that after Justin. I thought . . .”
I thought I’d want to leave.
I thought this would be a quick escape. That afterwards, I’d have my life figured out. But now, more than ever, I was conflicted. Torn between two futures.
“I thought we’d just be friends. Now, I want more. I’ve felt more alive with June and Dallas in the last few weeks than I ever did with my ex. Is that wrong?”
