Page 22 of Best Friends

Chapter Six

The following Friday…

Drinks after work? Boynton’s?

Jesse looked down at the text from Benji. Sure. How early can you get there? I’m off at four.

I can be there early, if you want. Might be best because I need to talk. Grab a booth in back if you get there first.

Talk? Jesse drew in a breath. What would they be talking about? Hayden came to mind… for the millionth time that week. Sure.

Hours passed at work… unproductive hours, though not many had been productive that week. He snuck out a little before four and headed to the bar. After ordering a beer, he headed to one of the booths near the back of the row, farthest from the door. About fifteen minutes later, Benji showed up and grabbed a beer before heading over to sit.

“You’ve been quiet this week,” Benji said. “You okay?”

Jesse nodded. He still felt as if the life had been sucked out of him. Worse, he didn’t know how to feel about it. There was an empty space within him where Hayden usually fit. Not having his best friend around was tearing him apart.

That last kiss still hung in his mind. The drunken one, he’d been able to explain away. Monday night, Hayden had been stone sober.

Every time he thought about it, his heart raced a little faster and his stomach twisted into knots.

“That wasn’t much of an answer,” Benji said.

Jesse was thoughtful a moment. “You ever had someone show you a side of themselves you’d never known existed… and been terrified and excited all at the same time?”

Benji frowned. “I don’t know what you mean, exactly.”

“A friend of mine… a guy I thought was straight… well, I found out that might not be the case… and I don’t know how to react…”

Benji’s face turned red. “How the hell did you find out?”

“Huh?” Jesse was confused at Benji’s tone. “You knew?”

“Knew? Well, yeah.”

Jesse leaned back. “Hay told you?”

Benji’s eyes grew wider. “Wait… what? Hay? Hayden’s gay?”

Jesse realized he’d said too much and his gut twisted. “Nooo… Hay’s also… a friend of this person, so… I assumed he… might’ve told you.” The lie didn’t roll too easily off his tongue.

Benji grew quiet, staring at Jesse. He took a drink from his beer. “Are you talking about me?”

It was Jesse’s turn to be confused. And then it hit him. That look Benji had given Mac. “You? No… I’m not talking about you. I swear.”

Benji tilted his head to the right. “That’s why I asked you to come have a drink tonight. I had something to tell you.”

Jesse leaned onto the table between them and waited for whatever it was that Benji had to say. In his gut, he thought he might know.

“I’ve tried to deny something for a long time. Too long. And I can’t keep it up.”

Jesse sat there, silent for a moment. He didn’t want to ruin Benji’s moment. “Okay.”

“The fact that you’re freaking out about this friend who might be gay… I’m not sure how you’re going to take this news.”

“Just spit it out.”

“I’m bi,” Benji said in a rush. He seemed to breathe a little harder when he was done.

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