The Best You Ever Had

The Alice Conroy Show

"So a date in public, huh?" Jenny said over the phone.

I sighed. It was a happy sound. "Yeah, but it didn't work."

There were no pictures that I could find, no articles about us the morning after.

"Was the entire point to be photographed? Or was it also just to stop hiding and have a real date with your boytoy?"

She was right and I told her so.

"I love hearing that. Tell me again."

I laughed. "You're right."

She chuckled and I could tell she was taking a drag off a cigarette. "And anyway, you're wrong. It did work. Search yourself and Brendon again."

She was right. There was a picture, and then below it, an article. "Told You So: Urie and James Step Out", it read. And then below that there was another nearly identical photo of us at the park at dusk. They weren't great photos, but we were clearly holding hands and leaning into one another. We looked like a couple.

"Guess it just needed a little time to get out there," I said.

"Are you relieved?" the blonde, badass bassist asked.

I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "And a tiny bit anxious."

"Why?"

"He's mine. Our relationship is not for the world. It's for us."

"Piper James has always been for the world and you know it."

I sighed. "Maybe Piper James is changing."

One of her large dogs barked and she hushed him. "Yeah, maybe. How do you feel about that, oh Great One?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. If he's changing me, it's for the better, I think."

"I still want to take pot-shots at him."

"I won't stop you. I like the way you two bicker. It's almost cute."

"Take that the fuck back," she spat, but there was no real venom there.

Bare feet passed across the wood floor and warm arms encircled me. It was bliss.

"I gotta go, Jenny. Thanks."

"For what?"

"Being you, I guess."

I hung up and turned in Brendon's arms so I was facing him, and hung my own arms around his neck.

"Any news?" he asked.

I kissed his chin. "At first I thought no, but there are a couple pictures and at least one article out there. I guess we're official now."

"What were we before?"

"Official. But now we're open for the public's consumption."

"Does it scare you?" He moved to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup, leaning against the counter in nothing but his low slung sweatpants. 

I swallowed loudly at the sight. "Nothing scares me if I have you to hold my hand."

He grinned. "You're so corny."

"Better than some of the things you've called me in the past."

"I was out of line."

"You weren't though. Not at all. And I'm sorry for anything I said. You know...before."

"Forgiven, because you make an excellent pot of coffee. Now show me those pictures. Did they get my good side?"

****