Chapter 3
1473 Words
It was September, and I was working on a project for my communication theory class.
My major was communications.
Yeah, big deal, right?
I could explain the project, but I won’t bore you. It was obviously boring. I was sitting in my room with my laptop open, trying to force myself through it, when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Bryson stepped inside.
He immediately turned the lock behind him.
“I have a project, Bryce.”
Bryson smiled. “Of course you do.”
Ah. So this was the Bryson I was getting today.
The one who wanted to initiate something. The one who wanted romance. The one who had come to distract me and fully expected to succeed.
“I really don’t have time for distractions right now, Bryson.”
He walked over and sat beside me, sliding one arm around my shoulders before kissing my cheek.
“Of course you do,” he said. “You always have time for me.”
I looked at him.
“Yeah.”
The project never stood a chance.
I lowered the laptop and leaned over to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and met my lips instead.
It felt so good.
I loved kissing him.
My hand moved over the front of his shirt, feeling the firmness of his chest beneath it. His pecs pressed against my palm. When my fingers drifted slightly lower, I could feel the shape of his stomach and the movement of his muscles underneath the fabric.
Then Bryson pulled back.
“Have you been missing me?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
I huffed and leaned away slightly. “Well, yeah.”
The answer seemed obvious.
“I never get to see you anymore,” I continued. “You’re always kind of busy.”
His expression changed. He looked away.
“Please don’t start, Augie.”
“What?” I stared at him. “You asked whether I missed you. I said yes because I haven’t gotten to see you.”
“But I know you’re going to mention why.”
“Well, yeah. Kelly constantly needs you, and you’re constantly with her, so I don’t get to see you.” My voice softened despite myself. “I miss you. You asked.”
Bryson looked back at me.
He brought both hands to my face, holding me gently between them.
“I did,” he said. “I’m sorry I got mad at you for expressing that.”
He paused.
“I guess I just wanted to feel wanted.”
“I get that.”
Boy, did I get that more than he realized.
Lately, I had felt like he didn’t want me at all.
I kept that part to myself.
“I do want you,” I said instead. “Bryson, I want you all the time.”
He sighed.
“Are we going to have this conversation again?”
“What did I say?”
“I know you want us to be public, and I already told you—eventually. Right now isn’t the time.”
“Because of Kelly.”
“Well, Kelly is only here to keep up appearances.” Bryson shifted beside me. “Our families are very close. I need her dad to like me, and I need my dad to be happy. He’s best friends with her dad, and it just…fits. It works. It’s what I need right now.”
I stiffened.
Bryson saw it immediately.
“That came out wrong. That isn’t what I meant.”
I looked away.
“Hey.” He touched my arm. “Why do we have to fight? I came here because I wanted to spend time with you.”
“I miss you, Bryce.”
“I know.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Quit fighting with me.” He leaned closer. “Let me make you feel appreciated.”
I gave in.
What else was I going to do?
I wanted to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss me.
Bryson’s mouth found mine again. The kiss started soft, almost apologetic, but it quickly grew more aggressive. He pulled me closer, and I responded without hesitation.
I certainly wasn’t complaining.
Eventually, his shirt came off.
I had missed that view.
I kissed his chest as he leaned back, his hands moving to the waistband of his pants.
Then his phone started ringing.
I sighed immediately.
Bryson glared at me. “What?”
“You know who that is.”
“No, I don’t. It could be anyone.”
“You know exactly who it is.” I looked at the phone. “Ignore it, Bryson.”
“I need to check.”
He picked it up.
Kelly.
“Two seconds, Augie.”
He answered, and although I couldn’t hear every word clearly, I heard enough.
Kelly missed him. Kelly needed him. Something was wrong in her student housing apartment, and she needed his help right away.
Bryson told her to call the resident assistant. He said he was busy.
Then the whining started.
She complained that she really needed him. She accused him of abandoning her. Whatever the supposed emergency was, no one else could possibly handle it. Only Bryson.
I knew what was coming.
Before the call even ended, I had already picked up his shirt.
When he hung up, he stood and gave me that look.
The one that warned me not to start.
I threw the shirt at him. “You better go.”
“Augie.”
“Bryce, what do you want me to say? This always happens. I don’t even know why—”
“Don’t even say it.” His voice hardened. “You love me.”
“I do. But I don’t get to be with you.” I looked at him, unable to hide how much it hurt. “I don’t get to share anything with you anymore. It feels completely one-sided.”
Bryson glared at me. “Stop.”
I went quiet.
“It’s difficult right now, but this is only a season,” he said. “I promise. Once I get things figured out, we’ll be able to be together openly.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re the only one I want. The only one I love.”
Bryson cupped my chin in his hand, lifting my face toward his before kissing me.
I melted immediately.
“Okay,” I whispered.
The anger was still there, but it had already lost its strength.
“I miss you.”
“I know.” He brushed his thumb against my chin. “I miss you too.”
He slipped his shirt back on and left.
I sat there in the silence that followed.
Was I a joke?
No.
He meant what he said. He had to.
Why would he come here and do any of this if he were only toying with me? Obviously, he cared.
But did he care enough?
I sighed and picked up my phone.
For a moment, I considered messaging Cal.
Something told me not to.
I did it anyway.
Hey.
About two minutes later, he replied.
Hey, what’s up? Long time no see.
I typed back.
That’s what you say when you have seen a person, Cal.
His response came quickly.
Oh, is it? Let me ask Marge.
A moment later, another message appeared.
She says you’re right.
Of course I’m right.
So what’s up? What do you need?
I stared at the question.
What did I need?
I needed Bryson to realize he loved me more than Kelly and finally leave her.
I needed Cal to realize that I was suffering. That I was alone. That maybe my life wasn’t what I had convinced myself it was.
I needed someone to notice without making me say it.
Instead, I typed:
Oh, I just thought I’d see what you were up to. See if you were free. Maybe we could have a movie night or something.
His answer took a little longer.
Fuck, that sounds great, but I have too much with Margie right now. We made plans tonight. We’re having a double date with some of her friends. A lesbian couple.
Then another message.
I think that’s kind of weird, right? Who knew there were gays in Talon Lake?
I stared at the screen.
Yeah, that’s kind of different.
I didn’t know what else to say.
There’s another couple going too. A guy, so at least I’ll have somebody to talk to. It won’t just be me and the girls.
That’s cool.
Hey, I gotta go though. Margie says I’m on my phone too much when I’m around her.
Oh. Okay.
The conversation ended.
I set my phone down and sighed.
- Writer
