The Truth

chapter twenty-six: brave

"Don't worry Julian, we got you," I say and he rolls his eyes.

For a whole week we've all been teasing him about being the only single one. He isn't having it. Part of me wonders if he loves Dylan, but I don't want to know. I don't want any more secrets like that.

"For the hundredth time I don't want a profile on any dating app."

"Oh come on it's fun." Dylan nudges his side.

"Fun my ass."

"Dude check out this chick," Dylan says and shows him a random girl on tinder.

"I'm not even going to look."

"But she's super pretty."

"Yeah come on dude," I say.

He looks at it and his eyeballs practically pop out of there sockets.

"See she's pretty," Dylan says and sets her phone down.

"What's her name?"

She looks at me and bites her lip trying to keep in a smile.

"Candace."

"Candace who?" he asks so obliviously.

"Candice dick fit in your mouth."

"You're not even funny," he says with a blank expression. Dylan laughs and he looks annoyed.

"No actually, I think that was pretty funny." Quinn laughs and I smile at him.

"I don't know why you guys think I need a girlfriend."

"Maybe you don't, maybe you just need to get laid." Dylan says.

"I beg you not!" He looks mortified.

"I mean I'm just saying."

"No more just saying."

Everyone laughs.

I know setting Julian up on dates and signing him up on dating websites isn't going to do anything. He's hot and he knows it. He could get anyone, he just doesn't want to.

"Ok we're out," Quinn says. I promised him we didn't have to hang out long. Just for a little while. And to be honest I was content staying at his place so I don't mind leaving early.

"Ugh you guys are no fun. I thought we promised having couples in the group wouldn't make everything different," Dylan says.

"Yeah yeah."

"I'm serious Quinn."

"Tomorrow we can hang out longer." He smiles at her and she rolls her eyes.

"Fine but I'm holding you to that."

"Bye Dylan," he says flatly.

"Bye Vera," she says bye to me instead of him. He doesn't care though he just grabs my hand.

We leave the building and get into his car.

"You know I used to really love hanging out with everybody," Quinn says.

"And that's changed because?"

"Because I have you now so I can see you when I please. Minus the fact I have work."

"You looked forward to hanging out with the group because you knew you'd see me?" I can't hide my surprise. I know he's loved me a long time but each time I hear more and more about it, it surprises me.

"Obviously. It's like you forget I loved you or something."

"I don't forget it, actually I'm reminded of it a lot. But that's a good thing because I love hearing about it."