I'm not sure if this would be confusing... so this chapter jumps back to after Jesse left Bryan's house and continues to the next day where Bryan interacts with Jesse again.

Bryan's POV

Diego smirks at me once I come back inside from sending Jesse off. "Did you lose something in Jesse's mouth?"

I groan and punch him lightly in the arm, "shut up."

I can't believe I got reunited with Jesse and he actually agreed to a date! He barely seemed to be able to keep his hands off me the whole time he was here and I'm definitely down for more of that.

"Bruh, stop smiling like that, it's creepy," Diego complains with a fake look of disgust.

I roll my eyes at him, "You're just jealous you haven't had a super hot guy that you're really into to make out with in years."

"Oof, low blow." He replies, grinning and putting his hand over his chest like he's feigning a heart attack.

That was a bit of a low blow but I knew he was over it. Diego was 28, two years older than I. He likes the shy, sweet, innocent type and his last relationship that ended just over three years ago shattered his heart.

The thing about Diego is that when he falls in love, he falls hard. He truly gives his body and soul to his love. He loves to spoil them and gives them literally anything they ask for. He loves having them completely trust him to take care of them.

I honestly think he just likes taking care of people. When he was 8 years old, his parents had another child; a beautiful baby girl. She was autistic and their parents were disgusted and never took care of her. Diego immediately took on the role of caretaker and protector until she died when he was 21.

He then had to take care of his father, who was diagnosed with cancer the year before his sister's death, and his mother who could barely keep herself together. He lost his family one after the other; his father at 22 and his mother at 23.

So when Diego met sweet, innocent Liam not long after his mother's death, he was happy he found someone he could care for again. He worshipped the ground Liam walked on and did everything in his power to make him happy until one day Liam broke it off with him. Liam claimed that Diego was too intense and smothered him and that Diego took away his independence.

I can see Diego's intensity being a bit suffocating but taking away his independence was a load of crap. Diego always let Liam do whatever he wanted from taking him or sending him clubbing regularly - Liam loved clubbing, like a lot, and Diego always paid for everything - to paying for Liam's college classes.

The timing of the breakup was sketchy too, it was just after Liam's last day of college and that made me convinced that Liam was just using him all along.

Diego had a lot of emotional baggage that he never dealt with from his family's death and that coupled with the heartbreak from Liam dumping him made him a complete mess. He started self isolating and was always drunk and angry.

However, since then he's given up drinking altogether. He'd never even had so much as had a beer since that dark time in his life and he vowed never to drink again. He even went to therapy and anger management sessions and that's also when he started hitting the gym and bulking up.

I look over at my best friend fondly; he has overcome a lot to be where he is today.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Shawn. "Hi Bryan, I just wanted to have a quick chat with you." He raised his voice slightly at the end as if asking if now was a good time so I nodded. What could Dean's boyfriend possibly want with me?

He immediately starts glaring at me, well trying to because he's way too adorable to pull it off, though not as adorable as my little tomato Jesse. "If you ever hurt Jesse I will end you!" His glare might not be working but I can see he's dead serious.

"I won't, I promise. I would never dream of it. I like him way too much for that." I smile at him reassuringly and that seems to ease some of his inhibitions.

"And you have to take care of him. He's so used to taking care of others that sometimes he forgets to relax and do stuff for himself." Shawn's voice is melancholy and he has a far away look.

Deciding to forego my curiosity, I instead say, "I promise I will try my hardest to take care of him."

Shawn nods and we are joined by Dean who kisses the top of Shawn's head effectively bringing a halt to our conversation since Shawn turns around with a wide smile and plants a kiss on Dean's lips. Dean smiles into the kiss and deepens it and I decide that's my queue to leave.

***********

The barbeque last night was lots of fun and this morning Diego, Dean, Shawn, Drew - one of my other close friends - his long time girlfriend Laina and I are at breakfast so that we can get to know Shawn better. There were a lot more people than expected at the barbeque and none of us got to talk to him much.

I watch as Drew and Laina flirt with the waitress. They have been together since high school and occasionally like to add a third or even a fourth party to their evenings.

I sigh as I pull out my phone for the tenth time to check for messages from Jesse.

I promised him yesterday that I would call him and he seemed thrilled by the idea but when I did call him, he never answered. I even texted him asking what's up and if he changed his mind about dating me. That was slightly insecure of me but he completely ghosted me and I would prefer not to play mind games.

I continue eating and chatting and I feel my phone vibrate. Pulling out my phone I notice that there's a text message from none other than my little tomato, Jesse.

My Little Tomato: I feel like anything I say is gonna sound like an excuse but here goes. I'm sorry I didn't answer your calls or texts yesterday. I know that was shitty of me but I can't promise that won't happen again in the near future. I had an emergency come up last night and I know for the next few weeks at least I'll be too busy to date you. I know this is the opposite message of what I was telling you yesterday and I'm sorry.

I blink at the message in disbelief. Did he just 'dump' me?

Me: Emergencies come up that's alright. I hope everything is ok. I know we barely know each other but let me know if I can help in any way! And just to clarify... are you 'breaking up' with me or asking me to wait till you have more time to date?

I immediately see the 3 dots as he starts typing his reply.

My Little Tomato: I don't know. I am interested and I do want to see where our relationship goes but I'm really preoccupied at the moment and it's unfair to ask you to wait. Especially since I don't know when we'll actually be able to go on our first? Second? Third? Date. Wait, are we counting the club as a date? And the makeout session at your house?

Me: Hahahahaha no I wasn't counting either of those as official dates, we have yet to go on our first date. And I'm fine waiting till your life is less hectic to officially start dating! I do have one condition though, can we have a 10 minute video chat at least twice a week? And I'll text you everyday but don't worry about replying, you can reply whenever! Is that ok?

As soon as I hit send I want to delete the message. Was that too much to ask? What if I'm being overbearing?

My Little Tomato: Yes! I'm ok with both of those! :)

I smile at my phone. He definitely likes me! Hmm I wonder what his emergency was. I'm pulled from my thoughts by Shawn's squeal.

"Jesse! Don't forget you and Chase have to help me come up with a tattoo design today!... Emergency! What happened?... Chase, what happened with him?... I'm offended, why won't you tell me what happened!... Dean? Yeah he's here, hold on." Shawn furrows his eyebrows in confusion and presses his ear against the back of the phone he just gave Dean, trying to hear what Jesse is saying to Dean.

"Hi Jesse," Dean says tentatively. From what I know he's known Jesse for over 2 months but they never really spoke one on one. "Yes, I did study criminal law along with corporate law... Yeah ok, hold on I'll go outside."

Shawn whines and gets up to follow Dean but he shakes his head, places a kiss on Shawn's cheek and walks outside. Shawn's face mirrors the baffled look I'm sure I have on mine.

Why does Jesse need a criminal lawyer?

Dean returns after a few minutes with a troubled look on his face. "Bryan can you please take Shawn home for me?" He then turns to address Shawn, "Baby I'm sorry I have to cancel our plans today but I'll see you tonight." He gives a confused Shawn a deep kiss on the lips before leaving.

What on earth did Jesse say to him?

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