Chapter 5
Reggie ended up at a bar halfway across the city from Luke and Carrie’s place. He didn’t want to be around Nick at the moment, so as soon as he finished crying into Alex’s chest, he ran. He was well aware they were blowing up his phone, but he didn’t have the courage to answer it. What were the chances that he was actually happy with the guy his ex cheated on him with? Reggie didn’t want to think about, instead focusing on the thing he never did: drinking. Reggie had always sworn off alcohol. Afraid he’d end up like his dad. But tonight he didn’t have a second thought for Robert Shada. Tonight he was solely focused on removing thoughts of Caleb or Nick from his mind. Around his third drink, a guy sat down next to him. Dark curly hair, cute smile, ‘Not as cute as Nick.’ His brain so helpfully provided. “Hey, I’m Dylan. What brings you here to drink alone? Heartbreak?”
Reggie let out a sad laugh, “I guess?” The guy cocked an eyebrow with an easy smile. “A couple weeks ago, I was in an accident. I woke up and couldn’t remember the last two years. Apparently, I’ve been dating this really great guy for almost a year and a half, and I can’t remember it.” Dylan’s smile faded as he leaned in, listening intently, “Then today, my ex, the break up was three months into my two year gap and I cannot remember, he came in. I had a memory flash, and we had been fighting because he was cheating on me. Turns out, the guy I woke up dating is the guy my ex was cheating on me with.”
“Whoa, man. That is intense. But, why are you drinking alone?”
Reggie shrugged, “Nick and my friends are all friends with each other, and we do like a weekly dinner and I couldn’t stand being there tonight.”
Dylan’s brow furrowed, “Wait, Nick? This is a long shot, but Nick Carlson? Are you Reggie?”
Reggie blinked, “Uh, yeah? Did I meet you and forget?”
Dylan laughed, “No, no. I dated Nick back in high school, and we stayed friends. I remember him finding out he was this one guy’s side dude. What was his name? Caleb?” Reggie nodded. “Okay, well Caleb never even hinted to Nick that he was with someone. Carrie figured it out one weekend back in like November about two years ago, saying she saw the dude with someone. Nick was a wreck, not because he cared that much about Caleb, but Carrie had told him that it broke Caleb’s partner’s heart when they found out. Nick hated doing that to someone, and he had never even met you.”
Reggie laughed a little sadly, “I was never really in love with Caleb.” He took a drink. “My parents showed me that romantic love never really lasts. They were at each other’s throats my whole childhood until my dad finally killed ‘em both. But you know what’s crazy? According to my best friends, I was prepared to propose to Nick. I’ve always sworn off marriage, it’s too messy to split. But I guess I was willing to risk that mess for Nick.” Reggie downed the rest of his drink, not knowing his words were getting more slurred.
“Come on, man. Let’s get you out of here.” Dylan slung an arm around Reggie’s torso, guiding him out the door. Reggie shook his head as the buzzing started.
“Come on, blondie.” Reggie laughed, hooking his arm around Nick, helping him out to the sidewalk and calling a taxi. After he got Nick into the backseat, and gave the driver directions, Nick leaned into his shoulder.
“You know I love you, right Reg?” Reggie’s breath caught in his throat, the two of them hadn’t said the L word yet. “I know it might be too soon. But I do love you.”
“Remind me when you’re sober.” Reggie finally said with a smile.
The next morning, as Reggie woke up, he heard Nick’s voice in his ear. “Hey, Reg.” The blonde curled an arm around his waist, “You told me to remind you when I was sober. I love you.”
Reggie almost cried, “I love you, too.”
Reggie zoned back in as Dylan was pulling away from his phone. “You know the first time he ever said that he loved me? It was only like five weeks into us dating. He got drunk with Willie one night, and me and Alex went to the bar to pick them up. He was drunk so I told him to remind me when he wasn’t. As soon as I woke up he said it again.” Reggie slurred.
“You can remember that?” Reggie snapped his head up from where it was slumping against Dylan’s shoulder.
“I guess.” Reggie shrugged. “The way you’re lifting me reminded me, ya know?” Dylan laughed quietly.
“Tell me what else you remember?”
“He hates mustard.” Reggie laughed, “But he loves ketchup. He eats salt and pepper on practically all dinner food, like it can’t be healthy. The tattoo on my upper forearm is about him, his old lacrosse number wrapped around an acoustic guitar. He planned my birthday himself around the time we were together for eight months, but he planned it himself cause he got the month wrong. I was very surprised, and he was very embarrassed, but he was so cute. He had given me a scrapbook, too. It was super cheesy, and unlike anything I have ever gotten from someone. We went to New York for our one year anniversary, and I dragged him to this random MMA fight. He ended up loving it so much, he bought us matching shirts for one of the guys, and the next day he took me to a Broadway musical, I think Hamilton. And I remember the moment I realized I wanted to marry him.” Reggie continued quietly, walking more on his own than leaning on Dylan now. “I was having a rough day at work, and he came home with some really cheesy romcoms and take out and told me he was gonna cuddle me until it became a good day.”
Dylan was smirking, “Yeah? Can I ask you some questions?”
“Sure.”
“Who asked who out?”
“Depends what you mean.” Reggie laughed, “I gave him my number, Carrie arranged the first date, I asked him out for the second date, but he asked me to be his boyfriend.” Suddenly Reggie was laughing harder, “He actually asked me to be his boyfriend after he said I love you the first time.”
Dylan shook his head with a smile, “And when did you realize you loved him?”
“Date number three.” Reggie smiled fondly, “We went to this festival for Day of the Dead. My adoptive family is latinx, so I embrace a lot of Spanish culture. Her and her wife went with us, and he tried so hard to understand the things that meant so much to us.”
“What’s your favorite thing about him?”
“Tie. Between his eyes and his heart.” Reggie blushed. Or maybe it was the alcohol. He wasn’t sure.
“He’s lucky to have you.” Dylan turned them at a corner, and Reggie realized they were close to the home he shared with Nick. “And he needs to own up to his part in hurting you before. Even if he didn’t know it.” Dylan turned to look at Reggie, “But what did you mean you were never in love with that guy?”
Reggie shrugged, “We were together for three years, and every time he told me he loved me, which took almost two years, I would just tell him I wasn’t ready yet. I cared about him, but I never loved him.”
“But you were ready to love Nick so fast?” He asked curiously.
“Nick was easy to love. And he loved me like I was easy, too.”