Page 21 of Wild Thing
His account was private, as was mine, so we would each have to accept each other’s request before we could doom scroll each other’s pictures. I was low-key looking forward to that.
“Okay, he’s unblocked," I announced, placing my phone back into my bag.
“What else did you talk about?”
“Mostly our careers. He’s here for work too. Get this: HeownsPatch and Sons, which is a really big deal. They are the biggest players in luxury builds back in Grey’s," I combed my hair with my fingers. "He also wanted me to tell him about Europe.”
“Did you tell him about your hot fling with that Spanish guy?”
We giggled. Leo and I mightn’t been able to speak each other’s language, but we certainly had no trouble communicating in other ways.
“I conveniently left that story out.”
Taylor continued to stare at me, before she asked the question I’d been dreading, but knew was coming.
“But you didn’tconvenientlyleave out the fact that you’re in a relationship now, though. Right?”
Avoiding eye contact, I popped another piece of pita bread in my mouth and said while chewing, “It didn’t come up.”
“Dylan!”
“What? It’s not like I could just randomly say, ‘Oh by the way, I’m seeing someone.’”
“Uh, yeah. Yes you do. That’s what us normal folk do.”
An awkward silence ensued as I contemplated if I should have indeed fessed up and told Brax about Zack. The truth was, admitting that I was in a relationship was something I didn’t want to do. I wasn't sure what that said about my morals, but I knew what it said about how I felt about Zack. Indifferent.
“How are things with Zack anyway? Any better?”
“No. Things aren’t great.”
“Like…?”
My mind briefly flashed back to that kind stranger on the plane.Don’t settle for a love that doesn’t engulf you.
“We’re on two different pages. He's offended that I don’t want to move in with him. We’ve been having the same argument on repeat because he seems to think if he continues to push me, I’ll give in eventually.”
Taylor took a sip of her wine. “God, he doesn’t know you very well then.”
“Exactly. The more he pushes, the further away I move.”
“So where are you guys at?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m using this work trip to really consider what I want. Like, do I actually want to be with him, settle down and begin the descent into death.”
“Fuck, you make happy endings sound bleak.”
“Well, it’s not my happy ending. It’s Zack’s.”
“You’re mentally ill. You’re the only chick I know who has a nice, hot guy, who is pretty much desperate to marry her, but just… doesn’t want it. If he’s not the one, don’t settle. But don’t drag the poor guy on either.”
“Hence my big girl decision. And to be honest, he’s not the nicest, most supportive guy. He can be a real asshole," I admitted to Taylor. "But, asshole tendencies aside, I know I'm fussy. I even Googled 'how do I love what’s in front of me'.”
“You used Google as a substitute for a therapist?”
"You don't?" I raised my eyebrows at Taylor, making her feel like she was the crazy one. “The articles all suggested I should practice the art of gratitude by journaling daily.”
Taylor scoffed. “Does anyone actually do that? Journal daily?”
