Rebound Love

A New Beginning

Archer

The next morning I was all dressed for the office. I was glad that Gabe was there for me last night. We talked a lot and I finally relented and agreed to have Gabe send the reunion committee my confirmation of attendance.

"There's my favorite lawyer." Gabe greeted me in his kitchen. The guy was already dressed in his expensive tailored suit, just like me. We worked as a corporate lawyer in the same law firm. We were paving our ways and had a dream to open our practice together. This was why both of us worked so hard for our career. We interned at the same office and got accepted after our graduation at the same time. If both of us notice that one is better than the other we never show it. Both of us worked hard for different partners at the same law firm, both were almost equally praised for our achievements.

"You know it, Gabe and you're my favorite too. God after last night's pinkie swear, I think you're getting all mushy on me. You're not changing your mind aren't you?"

Gabe's laughter boomed and I smirked knowing that my day was starting out great. With Gabe by my side, I was going to be just fine.

Until it's time for another rinse and repeat.

"f**k no, drink your coffee. I have an early meeting. We'll use my car. You haven't unloaded all of your stuff from your car. I'll help you with that when we get back."

I grinned and then drank my coffee. Ten minutes later we were on our way to the office. I worked at my little office across from Gabe's. My buddy winked as he passed my door on the way to his first meeting. I didn't have long since I also need to prepare myself for my first meeting. Both of us were too caught up with work until it was time for us to go home and as usual, I stepped into the small coffee shop in our office building for some late afternoon boost of coffee and cinnamon rolls. Yes, I had a sweet tooth and I liked to indulge myself before I go to the gym the next day.

Me and Gabe had always been the working-hard type of men, not just in our works. We take care of our bodies religiously, probably because of our love of sport since our teen years. Back in high school, I was the football captain while Gabe was the swim team captain. We bonded when our girlfriends invited us for the yearbook project. Since then I learned that Gabe and I were continuing to the same school and pursuing the same major. We were stoked when we were assigned to the same dormitory and then had a great laugh when we bumped into each other as we entered the same dorm room.

"Archer,"

I tensed hearing his voice. Of course, Jay knows about my after-hours habit because he used to meet with me after his working hours. We worked at the same office building, surely we would wind up meeting each other every now and then. Though I foolishly thought that I would not meet my ex until much later.

"Jay," I nodded but I focused back on my phone where I was secretly typing an SOS to Gabe's number telling him about my current situation.

Archer: J is here. Coffee shop. Get me out.

Gabe: Damn dude, you're on a f*****g sabbatical after this! Give me five minutes.

Archer: Owe you.

Gabe: I'll collect it.

"Who are you texting?" Jay asked, his beautiful face expressed his jealousy and I had to laugh at that.

"Seriously, Jay? You're the one who's been cheating on me and now you're questioning me?"

"Baby, I thought we were good. Then I found out that your clothes and stuff were gone. I love you. You know that."

Yeah, I know exactly what that was. Jay throws the L words easily like it meant nothing and that should've been the first red flag. But my ex had the sweetest angelic expression that made me believe his words.

"It's over Jay. We're done. I need to move on."

"No...I...we can be good again, baby. I'll be good. I swear. Just give me the chance."

"I've been giving you those chances, but you kept on lying." I was not backing down and I knew I hit the spot when Jay's face flushed as I told my ex-boyfriend the lies after lies he said to cover his other lies. It had been a very exhausting experience for me and I had no intention to live through it all over again. Luckily, Gabe was there on time.

"Let's go,"

That was all he said when he put his hand on my shoulder, ending the conversation with my ex. Gabe did give Jay a look when he wanted to argue until Jay decided that he was not going to win me back. Not at the coffee shop. Not with Gabe around. I reminded myself that I was putting Gabe's number back on my speed dial and blocked Jay's number so I wouldn't be bothered by the cheating bastard.

"Come on, I'll help you with your stuff, then we're going to the gym to let out some steam." Gabe offered and I nodded eagerly. I didn't have much in my car since the rest of my stuff was still in storage. So the move was quick and two hours later we were sweating it out at the gym.

"I checked with my realtor and she said there's a unit opening up for rent on my floor. I just thought you might want to know. You can air your stuff rather than renting a storage." Gabe explained as we were back at his place.

"Are you kicking me out, Gabe?"

The man laughed before slapping me on the back of my head playfully. "f**k no, you're my buddy. We did the pinkie swear. You know what I mean." Gabe put his hand on my shoulder and I nodded, cause I did know.

"Ask your agent if she thinks there's one for sale in the building. Might as well use it as an investment, right?"

"There you go, now you're starting to use the right head to think. I'm so proud of my friend."

"f**k you!" I laughed and shoved my buddy until he was about to fall, but both of us just ended up laughing some more.

"Mm...no thanks buddy, you know that's not how I swing," Gabe said playfully.

"Yeah...yeah, you've been proving me many times with your endless rotation of women."

He laughed and told me that we were going to have the best time at the reunion.

"So have you stalked anyone on f*******:?" Gabe asked when we were sitting on the sofa watching some action flick while having our late dinner.

"What do you mean? You know I don't open my f*******:. People just tagged me and that's it. That's my social existence."

Gabe laughed and told me that he remembered when Jay was pissed with my pictures. "I know you didn't take it down."

"Yeah, my bad. I forgot my password and was just too lazy to do the rest. Besides, I like to scare my sisters, so it is all good."

"Well, I just thought you might want to see who's hot and who's not so hot ten years after graduating high school. Though I'd say you dodged the bullet with your ex cheerleader girlfriend. She's married with six kids and she looked so damn happy. I don't think I know how to be happy with that many kids." Gabe visibly shuddered and I chuckled, shaking my head and telling Gabe not to judge people.

"This is why I hate social media. It makes people judge others and I think..." I didn't finish my words when Gabe showed me a recent picture of Oakley. An older version of the happy pink-purple wearing outfit Oakley with his drama clique entourage. The man looked hot as f**k, sexy, and grown up so beautifully.

"I see that he still has that effect on you." Gabe smiled knowingly and that made me raise an eyebrow.

"I know that you like him. There was a look in your eyes every time he was near. I know you're into guys before you start to take charge of your newfound sexuality."

"But he..."

"I know, and I'm not telling you to jump into a relationship with him. Not after you're just done with Jay. I'm just thinking that you should try it my way. Have fun with him. It says on his profile that he's still single. Just don't offer a relationship. A nice reunion fling might give you a new perspective." Gabe paused before continuing.

"I think you're still too raw for a new relationship. Not that I think what you have with Jay is something substantial. But still, you move in with the guy and he still cheats. That alone angered me to want to b***h slap the guy."

I finally laughed and finished drinking the glass of water before taking our empty plates to the sink. Gabe did the cooking, so it was my turn to wash the dishes.

I was silent when I did the simple task. And when Gabe said his goodnight and went into his room, I went to the guest bedroom and lay on the bed. It was half an hour later when I finally drifted off to sleep with my mind remembering the one day of my high school days that I cherished the most. The day when I was locked inside the school library with Oakley. The day that I was sure that I started having feelings for Oakley. The day that made me venture into a guy-on-guy experience, during my college days.