they were opposites in the best way—lexi was loud, unapologetic about the space she took up, while he was quieter, more reserved, yet never once seemed bothered by her volume. that was what she liked most: she didn’t have to shrink around him. and she never tried to stretch him into something he wasn’t either. they just fit. at his words, she nodded thoughtfully. “everyone wants to be like this,” she said, gesturing vaguely to herself. “it’s a personality trait at this point. but if i could, i’d lend it to you for a day so you could just be loud and reckless.” she grinned. “or you could try it yourself. do whatever crosses your mind—no second thoughts. maybe you’d surprise yourself. fake it till you make it.” she took a sip of her drink, eyes still on him. when he mentioned her and mckenzie being cute, she beamed. “we are. and we’re in it for the long run. i’m not going back to hooking up with suburban moms from dating apps,” she shook her head dramatically. “my era of being an inexperienced lesbian craving older-woman validation? over.” a smug little smirk appeared. “i upgraded.” she lifted her cup toward him. “to you living a good life too.” as he leaned forward, she mirrored him instinctively, arms folding on the table, eyes glinting with playful challenge. “tempting, but my girlfriend’s ass is way juicier,” she shot back with a laugh. then she sobered slightly. “but seriously… what would i do?” she leaned back in her chair. “i was in love with my best friend and actually told her. now i’m dating her. that’s nothing like what you had with kitty.” she studied him for a second before shrugging. “if you keep thinking about her, just invite her over. what’s the worst that happens? she says no? fine. but if she says yes and you actually have a good time, maybe it quiets that constant replay in your head.” her tone softened. “you’re not over her. and you’re not really trying to be either, are you?”
Bodhi had always cared about what people thought of him, more than he ever really let on, and though he rarely traced it back, it likely rooted itself somewhere in his childhood, in moments that taught him to be careful, measured, and aware of how he came across. He wasn’t the kind of person to air everything out for the world to see; he kept his circle small, sharing pieces of himself only with those he trusted most, guarding the rest like it was something fragile. At her comment, he playfully shook his head, a quiet laugh escaping him. “Can you imagine that? Me being loud and reckless. People would be blown out the water by it,” he said, the idea clearly amusing but far from believable. When Lexi admitted she was in her relationship for the long run, Bodhi’s expression softened, a small, genuine smile lingering on his face. “She seems really good for you,” he admitted, keeping his words simple, choosing not to pry into the deeper layers of her relationship but appreciating what he could see from the outside. As the conversation shifted and Lexi touched on the feelings he hadn’t quite shaken, Bodhi reached for his drink, wrapping his fingers around the glass as if grounding himself before giving a small, resigned shrug. “Do you want me to be honest? No. I’m not over her. I still really like her, Lex,” he admitted, his voice quieter now, more vulnerable than before. He exhaled slowly, eyes dropping for a moment. “She’s on my mind all day, all night. I’m always anxiety ridden that some other guy is going to take her before I have the chance to say it to her face, but who wants to get back with their ex? What if I say something and she’s completely put off by the idea. That would make me feel so down.”















