One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Until

Rya's worried eyes stare at me as I step through the backdoor of the bar. She has this tense look on her face and her mouth is stretched and drawn back.

"So? How did the appointment go?" she asks while biting her fingernails.

Analyzing the bar and my family, I realize everyone else is staring at me and looking worried but not as worried as Rya.

I slowly shake my head and lower it, playing them all for fools. "No cancer! Just a scare!" I say as a smile fills my face and I raise my head.

The bar fills with thankful-sounding gasps and exhale as I walk around and behind the bar. I feel Jack's hand reach out for my shoulder. I stop and turn around.

"Well, little missy. You just gave me another reason to smile today. I am thrilled to hear about this." His wrinkles wrap around his smiling face.

He sits back down, pushing his beer away from him. His wide smile tells me he is excited but nervous at the same time.

"Why'd you push your beer away from you?" I question and tilt my head in confusion. I have never seen him push his beer away before.

"I don't want it." He says, pushing it further away from him. "When you commented that this cancer check had more news than usual... it scared the shit out of me. And although I was expecting to see your children someday, not realizing you would turn out gay... I at least want to be at your wedding. I am making a vow to cut back by one beer a night until I am down to two beers a day and that will be all I drink."

"Awe!" I say and quickly wrap my arms around him. "Jack! You will be at my wedding. And something tells me it is going to be sooner than later...And...I can still have kids, just not how you'd expect me to have kids."

I glance over at Natalia and her slightly pale face. "Babe, you had the flu yesterday, correct?" I question as I release my arms from Jack and begin walking toward her.

She raises an eyebrow and looks out of the corners of her eyes, pressing her lips tightly together. She knows I am calling her out, knowing she should not be in this bar yet.

"Two days ago, already." She argues. "That's when everyone got into that bar fight or whatever. When do we leave for Atlantic Beach?"

I glance down at my phone and check the time. "Two hours," I say and watch as everyone freezes in place. "But are you going to be able to go with being sick?"

"Don't even question it." She argues, sipping from her glass of whiskey.

The extra bartenders are already here expecting to work, but I am getting this feeling that no one else was expecting to leave in two hours.

"Everyone is ready to leave... right?" I ask as they all stare at me with blank stares.

Jared drops his bar rag. "Umm..." he says, quickly rushing around the bar. "I'll be back bitch! It'll take me less than five minutes to pack my briefs, a shirt, my select beauty products, and my rubber ducky."

He snaps his fingers and eyes down on Jack expecting him to say something, but Jack is still quiet. "That's what I thought old man."

"I'm in a good mood today, Jared! Don't think I won't change and give you hell, young man"

A set of hands ran against my back, causing me to quickly turn around.

"I suppose you and I don't have enough time," Natalia asks as she wraps her arms around my waist and sets her chin on my shoulder.

"Nope. For once, I have to turn you down." I say, smile, and kiss her hand.

Sliding my hands across her arms, I slowly guide her as I spin around and wrap my arms around hers. She smells of lilacs and strawberries, even though she is not a big fan of either, but she knows I love those smells on her.

"You and that sensual smell of lilacs." I pleasingly say. "Purposely trying to get me wild before our trip. Trust me, we will have plenty of time. We should probably make sure we have everything in the car."

"It's only a day." She argues, forcing my hands off her. "Settle down, beautiful."

"No," I argue and playfully scoff. "It's two days! And I don't want to smell like booze and sex when we return."

She shakes her head with a playful smile. I wrap my fingers around her arm and pull her back to me, quickly sliding my lips against hers.

The warm pressure of her lips against mine drives the small fire inside of me a flame higher. I know what I am getting myself into every time we kiss like this. It is not just a regular kiss. It is a wild and passionate kiss.

I hear the bar door open and glance out of the corner of my eye while keeping my lips on hers. Jared has returned with a bedazzled fucking suitcase, and I am beyond words. Now he is just being...well...Jared.

"Okay, bitches!" he announces, lowering the overly large sunglasses on his face. "Stop the sex scene in the bar. My shit is packed, who's car am I putting it in?"

Derek walks out of the kitchen with his hand raised in the air. There is a widened smile on his face as he steps toward us.

"I'm taking my vehicle..." He says and pauses.

Jared makes some weird 'ah' sound and raises his hand like a stop sign. "Don't say another word Handsome,"

I force myself to hold back my smile as Jared runs his hand across Derek's shoulder and to his neck. "You got that brand-new SUV, and I am riding with you. I call shotgun bitches!"

Derek lightly shakes his head. His fake smile causes the creases on his forehead as he points toward the front door. "The second parking spot outside. You can't miss it..." He pauses and looks at the group of us with a slight look of embarrassment and then goes ahead to lower his head. "The license plate says, 'big daddy d' on it."

I bite my lips as tight as I can. My stomach is hurting from the laughter trying to bust out of me. I look over my shoulder to find Natalia, but she is nowhere to be found. I scan the bar and see the kitchen doors moving. There is a roar of laughter coming from the kitchen.

Jared looks at Derek with interest. His eyes are scanning Derek like an x-ray machine finding broken bones on a patient. He is slightly licking his lips and running his finger near the corner of his mouth.

"Do you want me to test that theory?" Jared playfully asks, looking at Derek like prime steak and shrimp.

A shoulder bumps against me, and I look over to Rya standing next to me with a smile. It is obvious she is trying her best to hold back her laugh, but also looks just as perplexed as I am.

"Am I hearing this right?" She speaks. "Is Jared hitting on Derek right now?"

I slowly nod my head and scan my eyes from her feet to her eyes. "Yep. It's not the weirdest thing to happen here."

I turn my attention to Gemma biting into a cherry. She is watching the TV and is oblivious to everything around her. I shake my head. "I have seen weirder situations."

Rya scoffs and rolls her eyes. "You're with Natalia and you love her." She argues. "If this is how it's going to be from now on..."

"It's not." I quickly said, interrupting her. "I'm sorry. I just must somehow get used to this and it is taking more than I realize. You are my best friend and then some. I will always love you and I feel split. Like I do not know how to explain it. I am in love with Natalia and plan on marrying her someday, but I still see you in my life. I don't think I could live this life of mine without you."

I feel torn and turn my head, averting my eyes from her. I want Natalia and plan on spending my life with her. But Rya is part of this life, and I truly will not be able to live without her somehow being involved in it. And one day I might have to.

"Babes." She argues. "Look at me. We are the best of friends. I have no plans of ever leaving your side. You and I are for life. No matter what happens between you and Natalia, me and Gemma, or any other person I connect with, you and I are forever mates too. I love you babes and always will...like friends."

I chew on my fingernail as I listen to her. Every part of me knows right from wrong, but sometimes I just want to be wrong. I love Natalia but Rya is a big part of who I am and always will be.

"I'm ready!" Jared yells as he pushes through the front doors, interrupting our conversation. "My bags fit simply fine. Who is riding with Derek and me? Raise your damn hands bitches."