The truth comes out

I rolled over to a shirtless Bryson. He was sprawled out on the other haft of my bed. Absentmindedly, I started tracing the bullet scar with my middle finger. He stirred awake.
"Good morning." His voice was husky, my insides melted to a puddle.
"I didn't mean to wake you." I pulled my hand back, tucking it under me.
"No, I want to be awake when you are." He rolled closer and kissed me. My body felt like it was bursting into stars. "I love you." He whispered as he pulled me closer. I giggled. The world ceased to exist outside of this bed. He brushed his fingers lovingly through my hair. "Hey, Rene?"
"Yeah?" I whispered back.
"It's time to wake up."
"What?" I pulled away slightly.
"You're dreaming. I just wanted a moment of ours, a secret before you have to go back." He smiled and particles of him started to drift off.
"No, wait."

I woke up with my hand extended out, reaching. Sighing, I got out of bed and trooped into the living room. Bryson sat on the couch playing Xbox with Dustin and Lee who were at their own homes for once.
"Have a good nap?" He teased. I hummed in agreement.
"I did, but I wish I could live in my dreams over reality sometimes." I plopped down next to him.
"What did you dream about?" His eyes were trained on the tv.
"Eh, just a crush." He glanced at me. "Celebrity crush." I clarified with a lie. He wrinkled his nose.
"I don't know why you have such a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio." I laughed, Leonardo had nothing on him.

Somewhere in the next hour Joe had called me and asked if I wanted to go out, I agreed. The guys stopped playing games because Lee had to go to a family dinner.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Bryson asked as he peaked his head into the bathroom.
"No." I brushed my long hair out and braided it.
"Dustin is coming over."
"Shame, he's my favorite." I teased.
"Even to me?" I shrugged, not giving him an answer. No one could hold a flame to him.

As I was in my room getting ready I heard Dustin come in. He was always so loud.
"Hello, Princess Rene."
"Hello, my peasant Dustin." I smiled. My potential feelings for Dustin diminished as my love for Bryson grew. Dustin and I were just close friends now.

Not wanting to call too much attention to myself tonight I put on right, dark-washed jeans with a silky black top. Joe had gotten me a bag of clothing to go out in and this top was in there. I never wore it until now. The low scoop neck made my cleavage look great.

Bryson's door has opened a crack, just before I was going to push it open,  I heard them talking in low voices.
"You never cared about rules, especially after your dad. So why care now?" I heard Dustin speak first. "You're telling me, it not worth it? You love-" Afraid to hear too much, I knocked on the door and pushed it open. Bryson and Dustin looked at me like deer in headlights.
"Uh, you good?" They nodded. "Alright, I'm going out."
"Look at you, smoke show!" Dustin looked me over, I rolled my eyes.
"Where are you going?" Bryson bypassed Dustin's compliment.
"Out?" I smiled a little.
"But where?" Bryson asked. Remembering the incident that only happened a few days ago, I answered.
"With Joe to our bar." He stared at me with large eyes. "Is that okay?" He opened his mouth, after a few blinks he replied.
"Yeah."
"Thanks, dad." I teased. "Bye Dustin, love you. Bryce, you're questionable." I waved and was gone.

The Uber ride to the bar, I thought about what they were saying. Bryson following rules for love? He said he and Delilah broke up, so what love were they talking about?

My location was still shared with Bryson so it's not like I could really hide. He knew where I was and I'm sure he's checking.

Joe was always fashionably late. Today I decided to wait outside and enjoy the fresh air. The nights were starting to get cooler. The stars sparkled in the sky. When it rains, it pours but after the rain comes a rainbow. That's how the night felt, like a rainbow.

"Sorry, sorry." A rushing Joe came at me with a hug. "I know I'm late." I laughed.
"Only 8 minutes this time." Playfully, he bumped me with a smile.
"One of my best yet." Linking arms, we walked into the bar.

The bar top was fully packed. A table was open in the back but it had a lot of sticky stuff on it, so we avoided that one. Finally, a group of girls left to go dance and we snuck in.
"Sex on the beach," I ordered from Holly.
"Screwdriver, please." Joe beamed at her. How he could have so much charm amazed me.  My phone buzzed in my back pocket.

Bryce: You doing okay?
Me: Yes, thanks for checking up.

I wanted to send a heart emoji, but that was too obvious. Putting my phone down, I looked back at Joe.
"Who was that?" He gave me a smug look.
"Not who you think."
"Date didn't go good?"
"Awful actually. He tried to date rape me." Joe's jaw was nearly on the floor.
"Bitch, what!"
"Yeah. He drugged me but I was prepared and Bryson came and got me."
"Oh my god! I'm glad he was there. I'm so sorry." He grabbed my hands in his. They were warm. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know? I don't really think I have processed it. I just kind of compartmentalized it and put it away." Joe tilted his head, watching me with soft eyes. "I'm very confused. Bryce did everything right. He was so careful, I was dumb. He seemed harmless. Bryce was right. But then he came like a knight in shining armor and I didn't even care about Sebastian. I mean, fuck him for being a disgusting human being but I don't even care. I just care about Bryce." I huffed. Tears tried to form, but I blinked them away. A small smile formed on Joe's face.
"You're in love with him." I stirred my drink with my finger.
"How could I not be?" He laughed.
"I don't know. Having you two live together might now have been Ralph's best idea." Nimbly, I laughed.

The rest of the night we avoid any talk about Sebastian or Bryson. We mostly talked about Joe's love life. He recently joined grinder, a gay man's tinder. His dating stories were nearly making me pee myself with laughter. I guess gay men aren't much better than straight men.

Neither of us drank a lot so Joe offered to drive me home. He grabbed my shoulders before I sank into the passenger side.
"You okay?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I will be though." Smiling, he squeezed.
"I know you will be." Throwing my arms around him, I crushed him in a hug.
"Thanks for being my friend."
"Thanks for being mine."

Part of me felt guilty for always leaving Bryson to hang out with Joe. Joe was both of my friends but we rarely hung out with the three of us. Call me selfish, but I liked having these nights and memories just Joe and me.