Page 75 of Mitch

My shoulders loosened as her words hit me.

“I know we had our ups and downs, but I always felt like we were good friends, you know?”

I did know. Throughout our relationship, talking to Amy was one of the easier parts. The sex wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either, and felt like it was just part of what we weresupposedto do.

Which made a lot of sense as I lookedat hereasewith her girlfriend. I never made her smile like that.

The sight made me think about Mitchell.

“How did you know?” I asked.

Amy blinked. “Know what? That I was bi?”

I shook my head. “No. How did you know it was going to work out... with... your girlfriend?”

Molly shrugged, her green eyes lit up with amusement. “Because I’m a total catch, obviously.”

Amy rolled her eyes, shoving her playfully. “And humble too.”

I watched as Amy smiled, flipping some hair over her shoulder. “Honestly, the thought of being without her was worse than the thought of what could have been.”

I smiled genuinely. I understood her words one hundred percent.

The thought of being without Mitchell made my entire body tense.

Wondering what we could be if I was open to areal relationship. The possibilities made me want to try.

Maybe I could be happy too, like Amy and Molly.

I didn’t want to live a lie anymore. I wanted to be genuine, and that started with my feelings.

That started with Mitchell.

The rest of it, I’d figure out.

“I’m happy for you. Both of you,” I said, grabbing a tray of sugar cookie rainbows, offering it to them.

“Thanks, Penn,” Amy said, and she bit into the cookie, her eyes rolling back with satisfaction. Molly and I both laughed.

“It was really nice meeting you,” Molly said as she pulled her girlfriend along.

“We should totally get together sometime!” Amy said through a mouthful of cookie as I waved at her.

“Absolutely,” I said with a smile, just as Archie came back with a container full of tacos.

“Who was that?” he asked.

“My ex-girlfriend,” I said, with a smirk. “Who apparently likes pussy way more than I do.”

Archie laughed, popping open his container. “Mitchell’s over at the Jasper Springs Pet Hospital table hanging out with his friends.”

Archie’s words settled on me.

He was here.

Just across the road.

“Go,” Archie said, waving me off. “Go get your man and all that,” he said, biting into his taco, crunching away.

---