Drive fast, I can almost taste it now

 

"I know I said some things I shouldn't," Brandon sounded so sad. It had been a while since he'd called. Actually, Rylie didn't think she'd ever hear from him again. After all, they did have kind of an off-beat friendship. 

Rylie was definitely not her first love's type, but she got along with Maggie's brother just fine. It was so long ago, but they kept in touch. Rylie didn't even think to ask about Brandon's sister.

"Well, maybe it wasn't all bad," Rylie said, wondering if she should just listen instead. Sure, Brandon did have a way of getting in over his head, but he wasn't a party animal either. She knew he hadn't seen anyone in ages.

"It was wrong. I don't know what I was thinking," he did sound mad at himself. 

"Well, you made it through the pandemic," Rylie knew he'd had a hard time these past few years. And just when a chance things were better, possibly the pandemic would never go away. "You're only human."

"And you're not." 

She laughed at him. "Oh, I get around." She paced around her room. She was alone now, but she'd spent a good portion of the afternoon with Melissa. Possibly, not the wow factor that evidently Brandon had with that radio DJ, but it was sweet.

Now he was laughing. He said he couldn't believe it. "When did that happen?"

"You don't need to know," Rylie shot back.

"I tell you everything."

"Yes, you do," she told him he needed to be patient. All good things come to those who wait.

He told her he was moving into a motel where one could pay by the week. "I can only sleep on Yuki and Remi's couch for so long."

"I could wire you some money," Rylie said.

"I don't need your money," he promised. After all, he had two jobs now. "I'll be fine."

"Let's hope so," she said. "Remember, you're not that bad of a guy. But...you, tend to like all the wrong guys." She hoped she didn't say the wrong thing.

"I wasn't going to lose him," Simon told his brother Xander. Yes, there might have been a lot to explain about eloping and all, but Simon thought Xander should be happy for the both of them.

"It's just.." Xander kept hugging himself and shook his head, no to the news. "We could have celebrated, you know, I just..."

"Look, it was the right thing to do." Simon smiled as if it all worked out. He and Chevy were together and it was what he wanted. "I love him." 

Honestly, he'd never felt that kind of love. It was more than physical. He knew he always wanted to be there for him. "I didn't want him to think.." There was a lot on his mind about Chevy and what he might be thinking, but it finally clicked.

"I know you're old enough," Xander nodded as if he understood. Also, these were such uncertain times. Who knew when the next disaster might happen. 

"I don't like traveling as much as I used to," Simon then said as he tried the air-fried mushrooms before Xander could get them to the table along with the roasted tenderloin. As it was Chevy was coming over after work. It would be a celebratory dinner. 

Xander said he didn't like traveling, either. Of course, he was the biggest homebody that Simon knew.

"I don't mind being so boring, you know," Simon's smile was smart as he leaned on the kitchen counter. He looked at his silver couple's ring. This was where he wanted to be. It was amazing Chevy said yes.

He was still on cloud nine. It had happened, but not until their honeymoon. Of course, he wouldn't dare ask what changed Chevy's mind. Honestly, it was best perhaps to never know. Yet to go on. To make a life worth living. Simon had always wanted a happy ending.