Someone once told me that going to the gym won't solve my problems because they'd just sit back and wait for me to return to them. You'd think I'd have figured this out on my own a long time ago but it wasn't until I heard it that it dawned on me. Still, the gym is the place I first run to when faced with any problem, especially now that I have one of my own.

It doesn't solve my problems but it provides me with the mindset I need to think things over. Compartmentalizing my thoughts and easing my mind but today, that doesn't happen, mostly because Remy is right next to me babbling about how his name should be on the signpost because he shows up more times than I do and it's a miracle that I am not thinking of clubbing him with a pair of 250lbs.

There are clients he should be working with, it's a weekend, most people are checking in for their self imposed one workout a week routine but he has made it his duty to torment me, as if I am not being haunted enough.

"Are you even listening to what I am saying?" He sits on a bench across and watches me lift dumbbells.

"What do you think?" I huff and he rolls his eyes.

"Go ahead and be a bitch all you want. I'm not quitting now, not when you've finally hit it big.

"You don't get paid for being talked about on the internet, Remy".

"But you do for scoring two goals on your first game and I get that you like your privacy and shit but there was no way you were going to be getting both the doughnut and eggplant without people finding out".

I put the weight down.
"Did you post about this on your Instagram?"
He grin.

"Of course. Gotta show support for my bi boss, the ladies like that you know. Omg, he's so tolerable and welcoming, he must be a romantic".

I groan at his entire existence.

"I am not in a 3-way relationship. Okay man? Can you be supportive enough to ensure no one thinks that thanks to you? I love Travis, him only. No one else".

He watches me with the confusion of a child.

"Then the girl? You all looked cozy".

"She is just a friend".
I get off the bench and head for the showers.

"Where are you going?" He calls after me.

"I have to meet someone, besides, you can handle things here. Keep it up a little longer and we'll talk about inking your name to the building".

He looks ready to deliver another lecture, most likely on sarcasm and the under appreciation of his awesomeness but I don't give him the chance.

     Zayn has a glass of something in front of him at the bar but his attention is directed at his phone and he is smiling but I can't take my eyes off his brown leather jacket that has a certain glint to it in the multicolored lighting.

"Don't that stuff wrinkle in heat?"

He glances up at me, the ghost of a smile still present as I take my seat.

"What?"

"Who wears leather in summer?"

"One, don't come at me with your zero fashion sense and summer is practically over". His heart is not even in it, he is still smiling stupidly.

"Practically. Why the fuck are you smiling man? My life is going to shit".

"Thank God I have my own life to cheer us up right?"

"Us?" He laughs and take a sip of his drink, attempting to put on a serious face.

"Okay, your life is one fucking Hollywood drama".

"That isn't helpful Zayn".

"Okay, okay. What is really going on?"

"Aside the fact that everyone thinks I am bisexual now?"

"But are you not?"

"That is not what is important".

"Jake, I think self identification matters".

"I know who I am, Rodriguez and that is Travis's boyfriend, which is still a miracle because I wouldn't want to be with me with all this baggage and a 3-way relationship? Boy, that just messes everything up. Now our relationship has been made the center of my career and people are poking into their lives and Ingrid, she's been through a lot and my mother won't let her be about the baby_"

"Woah, woah. She knows? How does_? Benson?" His face squeeze in irritation. "You should really consider firing him".

"That is still not the point, zayn".

"Right, the point. Your 3-way, how is Travis taking that?"

"We hardly got talking before my mother showed up with her unpleasantness and he isn't taking my calls or replying my texts. It's one thing for your boyfriend to cheat on you, it's another for the pictures to be scattered all over the internet with a twisted narrative and I feel so guilty".

"Why? You didn't post the picture".

"It only exist because of me, because I put him in this situation and I feel like maybe, maybe I should let him go".

"What? Jake, all these is just noise and you guys love each other so much".

"I am aware of how much that boy loves me, Zayn. The fact that he is still here is on its own but we can't be like this. I mean how far can it go before he begins to resent me? I can deal with all these but not that. I can't live knowing Travis hates me and if things continue the way they are, he is going to".

"Damn". Zayn sighs and wipes his face down.

"What?"

"It's just, your love is so genuine and pure and I wish you'd believe in it enough to get you through this".

"I really want to but he deserves better than this and I just want him to know that the option is available, he doesn't have to deal with this".

"Jake, Travis is fully aware of what he deserves  just, promise me you won't decide that for him. You won't do what he did".

This all feels like shit. I shouldn't even be considering this, I shouldn't be in a bar with my best friend, talking about letting go of the man I love but I messed up. I snort bitterly.

"I thought I did before but I understand it so much better now".

"And you know it doesn't solve anything".

"But it wasn't all bad. Turned out we all needed that break".

"You know what? Let's get to the cheerful part. I got a ring".

"What?!" I wasn't at all prepared for that news.

"Which, now that I'm thinking about it, might not be very cheerful. What if she doesn't want to marry me?" His eyes widen.

"Don't be crazy man".

"Seriously, sometimes it's like she can hardly stand me and she only tries because we have a kid together". He looks really worried now.

"Then other times, she looks at you like you are the most beautiful thing she has ever seen". His hand pause in the air as he thinks.

"Well, yeah". I can't help the chuckle.

"You and Meghan are set, just get down on one knee and seal the deal".

He grins so wide and all I can see is his son.
"Okay".

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I get it out, the nerves returning as I see it is a text from Travis.

"Travis?" Zayn ask and I nod, opening the text.

Travis❤:  Wanna go for a ride?

"What does it say?" Zayn pulls me out of my conflicting thoughts.

"He wants to go on a ride".

"And?"

"And I'll see you later".

"Of course. Brainstorm on show stopping proposals". He claps my shoulder as I get off the stool.

       Travis is standing by his car outside when I get home, sunglasses on. I park my car in the garage before joining him outside

"You could have waited inside, you know".

"your mother is still in there". That makes sense. She doesn't drive, I'm not even sure she can, she has her driver drop her off places and the man is always running errands since she doesn't run out of demands.

"Are you ready?" He ask and I nod firmly because I am more than ready to clear up the mess around us.

The ride isn't fast or slow, it's just smooth and steady and Travis has his phone plugged in, blaring a playlist I made him. He stares right ahead and it's not long before he is getting off the road and putting the car in park. The road is empty, it leads up to an abandoned ranch but it's the prettiest thing you'll ever see in the fading summer. He gets out and so do I. I watch him as he comes over to the safer side and lean on the car next to me.

"Are you mad at me?" I ask and he let out a sigh.

"I was, in the beginning then I got mad at myself for getting mad at you. You got drunk and shagged someone, fine, we've all done that. It's something I could live with, even the baby, I always wanted to see you as a dad since Conan was born. Then I saw that broadcast this morning and__ and I don't know. Of course I was mad that someone else got that close to you, it just put this pictures in my head but it wasn't really about the pictures, it was the headline calling us all a couple or throuple or whatever.

It's just, your exes comprise of just Albert and Katie and I want to know if you even find Ingrid attractive in the least".

He is looking at me out the corner of his eyes as I struggle to understand everything he just said.

"Are you_ are you asking me if I am gay?" His eyes give me all the answers I need and I almost laugh because of the frustration coursing through me.

"Why does it matter? I am with you".

"It matters because if you want something more, something like what the media is proposing, then I'm sorry Jake but I can't give you that".

I have this indepth need to yell, to just scream really loud but I don't. Instead, I take in breath.

"Travis, I don't want any of that. I don't care for sexuality, all I care about is you. The situation with Ingrid was a mistake. I don't want to be a trouple or threesome, I just want things to return back to normal, back to when we'd take rides like this just because. I want our quiet time at the porch. I want to destroy all your plants because I'm hopeless with agriculture and I want to be able to kiss you without feeling like shit anymore but I know things can never be that way again and it sucks, it just__"

Next thing I know, he is wrapping himself around me and as I'm shocked into silence, I realize that I had been yelling after all and I'm letting out the ugliest sobs.

He sits us on the grass, overlooking the winding road and leans his head against my shoulder.

"I'm sorry". He whisper.

"Jesus, Travis. Don't apologize".

"You are under so much pressure as it is, you shouldn't be getting it from me too".

"You only asked a valid question and I'm sorry that I created room for doubt. You don't have to deal with any of this".

"I know but it's you, Jake. I'm not going to abandon you just because it got hard, that is not what we do".

We. Hearing that word fall out of his mouth is all the reassurance I need. He leans over and kisses me slowly.

"Did that feel weird?" He as just as slowly and I smile.

"No. Just right. I miss you". His expression turns blank as he search my face.

"Are you talking about sex right now?"

"For fuck's sake, Harden". I throw my head back in quiet laughter but when I look at him, he still he has expression on. "Maybe?"

He gets up and pull me with him into the backseat of his car.

___________________________
They just napping kids.