It was another hot day in Las Vegas. It had been 2 months since Ryan and I had broken up. He had moved on with someone else. I still went to band practice. Ryan brought his new girlfriend a few times. I did my own thing. Homework then chill. A few times, Ryan had gone to talk to me and then stopped himself. Spencer and Brendon have been my rock through all of this.
"How are you?" Brendon asked as we drove to Spencers house.
"A lot better." I replied, turning onto Spencers street.
"Good." Brendon said, smiling. Then we started goofing off with each other. We got out of my car, and we both laughed so hard at something. We went through the garage door, and I was still laughing. Ryan was already here with his girlfriend.
"Hey." He greeted us. We both said hello. I nudged Brendon, and he did it back. Things escalated from there. By the time Brent arrived, we were chasing each other around the garage. I had to sit down because I was laughing so much. I needed to use the bathroom, too. As I left the garage, I heard Ryan say to Brendon,
"You guys are fucking aren't you?"
"Of course not!" Brendon protested.
"Hmm, it sure seems like it."
"Even if we were fucking, what's it got to do with you? You dumped Lulu, remember?" I walked away to the bathroom.
When I returned, there was an awkwardness between Brendon and Ryan. I sighed and got on with my schoolwork. I could feel Ryan's girlfriend, Fran, shooting daggers at me. I chose to ignore. The band began practice. I tapped my foot to Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for snacks. Spencer looked over at me and winked. I smiled at him. Ryan saw the interaction and stopped playing. We all looked at him.
"Are you just fucking everyone in the band?" Ryan had his hands on his hips. "Lulu?" I was speechless.
"Who is she meant to be fucking now?" Brendon asked, rolling his eyes.
"Spencer." Ryan replied. Spencer and I burst out laughing. Spencer is like a brother to me. The thought of doing it with him gave me the ick. There is nothing wrong with Spencer. He is a good-looking guy. It's just that he's like my brother. Ryan stood and looked at us, both laughing. I found my voice again.
"So, Ryan, what led to you thinking this?" I was trying to calm myself. I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Ryan then described the interaction he just witnessed.
Spencer and I burst out laughing again.
"Even if it was the case, it's nothing to do with you who I do or don't fuck. Why are you so bothered? Is it because I didn't fuck you? It wasn't from trying to on my part. You always stopped it all before it went too far." Ryan just stood there, blinking and not saying a word. You could hear a pin drop.
Brent cleared his throat, and he played the opening chords to "But it's better if you do." Brendon joined him and started to sing the lyrics. Spencer came in on the drums, and then Ryan eventually started to play.
Band practice ended, and I got my things together. I waited for Brendon as I was dropping him home. He approached me, and we said goodbye as we left.
"Well." Brendon said as we got into the car.
"Well, what?" I asked him.
"Ryan. What's going on with him?" I shrugged and started the car.
"I have no idea, B. But he can't start acting all jealous. He made it clear he didn't want me anymore."
"If he did decide that he wanted you back, would you?"
"No. I am over him now." Brendon was very quiet. As we drove up to Brendons house, he took his seatbelt off and faced me.
"Lulu, I like you. I like you a lot. I have for a long time. Before you and Ryan. I was about to tell you how I was feeling when Ryan swooped in. That's when I thought friends is better than nothing." He shrugged and looked down at his fingers in his lap.
"Brendon." I said softly. I cupped his jaw with my hand. His eyes met mine, and we both leaned in. As our lips met, I felt a jolt of desire run through my body. We kissed and then separated.
"Would it be OK if I took you on a date?" Brendon asked.
"I would love to." I smiled. Brendon broke out into the biggest grin. We kissed again. Tongues exploring each other's mouths this time.
"Would you like to come in for a bit?"
"Sure." I replied.
We entered Brendons house, and nobody was home. Brendon didn't live with his parents anymore because they didn't agree with some of the life and career decisions that Brendon had made. I sat down on the couch. Brendon got us both a beer. I sipped mine and put it down on a table next to me.
