“My best friend.”
Dylan finishing Andrew’s sentence sends my heart flying.
“It’s harder than I thought, changing that mindset. If this whole thing doesn’t end up working out, I’d lose my best friend. I’d lose my copilot- my business partners.”
I nod, even though I can only imagine what they’re going through, but I need to find a way to quickly steer Dylan’s thoughts out of the negative.
“It sounds like you two are more on the same page than you know.”
They both chuckle and for the first time in a few days, I can see Andrew looking at us and it makes me so happy. Things are getting more comfortable for him.
“I can see how whatever we are right now is hard to accept- and that’s okay. Sometimes, these things take time. As long as you’re both okay with what we’re doing, that’s all that matters. Are you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Andrew's voice is quick, like he has no doubt in his mind.
“Absolutely. If we weren’t okay with it, we would have denied you just like we did with Kaitlyn. I mean, Andrew takes up as much space in my head as you do.”
“Same with me…”
Andrew’s voice is quiet.
“That’s really all that matters.” I tell them. “As long as you’re happy. Hey, last time it helped a lot when we made something more… concrete, you know? Like when you agreed to take it slow, it instantly put you guys at ease because you knew where we were all at. Maybe we should do that again. I mean, are we dating?”
A tense pause separates us.
“I think so.”
“Okay, let’s do this,” I begin.
“Why don’t we all say we’re dating? Maybe we’re not quite ready for boyfriend and girlfriend titles yet, but that’s okay! Maybe one day we’ll get there. We’re taking things slow, remember?”
Andrew nods and smiles.
“We’re dating.”
Dylan’s smile is matching his blonde counterpart.
“We’re dating!”
I can already see the official/unofficial title taking a huge weight off of their brains.
“What happened between you two at the office is normal. You both know that, right? It’s completely okay.”
They nod and smile.
“And if it happens again and again and again, that’s completely normal too. There’s nothing wrong with it, point-blank. Except if it’s going to happen again, I’d like it if you’d let me know.”
“Oh Hazel, I’m sorry.”
Andrew’s hand squeezes mine with incredible warmth.
“If it’s worth anything, we didn’t plan it or anything. It happened so quickly. I understand where you’re coming from, I think I’d be hurt if you and Andrew were together without giving me a heads up.”
“Same,” Andrew says.
They’re so sweet, I can’t help my smiles.
“Let’s agree then, if only two of us are going to be intimate, we need to let the third know. See? I told you talking about all of this would make it better!”
A weight that I wasn’t even aware of lifts off of my shoulders. I already feel immensely better.