Page 40 of March

Bryce swallowed and said, “Likes you?”

“You and Sean both know it, too,” Kelsey replied, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t do anything to make her feel that way. I’ve also tried to keep my dating life away from her because I don’t want to hurt her. It’s not like there’s been that much to talk about, but when I met a new guy, I talked him down a lot in front of her because the look in her eyes when she found out I was datingsomeone was awful for me. It was like I’d broken her heart, and I never want to break her heart.”

“You can’t help how she feels about you and that you don’t feel the same way about her.”

“But–” Kelsey stopped. “I don’t know anymore.”

“Know what?”

“She’s just… She’s the best, Bryce. She’s the best of us. She sees good in everything. I’m the logical, level-headed one, bordering on pessimist on most days. Sean’s the gloomy one because she can’t be with you and can’t move onfromyou. You’re the one who exists in reality a little but leans more toward the possibilities, and Megs is the eternal optimist who we all look to to cheer us up.” Kelsey paused. “But she has no one to cheerherup.”

“Until now, maybe.”

“Yeah.” Kelsey sighed as she looked out the window. “She’s amazing, and I miss her.”

“Have you toldherthat?”

“No, she’s happy.”

“If you know how she feels about you, you have to be careful telling her that you miss her, Kels. Make sure she still knows that you’re friends and that she should see where this goes with her new person.” Bryce watched as Kelsey turned to her, looking almost miserable. “Unless there’s something I don’t know.”

“I have never been attracted to a woman,” Kelsey said.

“I know.”

“I’ve never thought of one like that.”

“I know,” she repeated.

“But…”

“But?”

“But with Megs, it’s…”

“Different?” Bryce asked.

“How was it for you with Sean? You were friends first, right?”

“Very briefly. You and Megs have been friends for years.”

“Yeah, but you were friends first, and you realized you liked Sean and were gay at the same time.”

“I realized I was gay a little before that. When I met Sean and started hanging out with her, I felt comfortable enough to actually admit it to myself and to her. We started dating right after. To be clear, Kels, I never told Sean I was straight. I never told her anything about my sexuality when we first met. I think she could tell that I was gay already, so it wasn’t something we had to discuss until– Well, until she kissed me for the first time. But we had sex right after that, so there wasn’t much talking.”

“Your point?”

“You’ve told us all repeatedly and for years that you’re straight. You’ve only dated guys. And while Megan has been trying to move on because she thinks it won’t ever be possible to have you how she wants to have you, you’re now maybe starting to see her differently.”

“Yeah,” Kelsey said as she looked down at her hands in her lap.

“I’m saying you should be careful.”

“I know,” Kelsey said. “Actually, Idon’tknow. I don’t know what I’m doing. What am I saying? I’ve been friends with lesbians forever, but I’ve never even kissed a girl. Not even in college, when everyone was doing it.”

“What kind of college did you go to?” Bryce laughed.

“Bryce, come on,” Kelsey said, clearly annoyed with the joke.

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