Page 37 of Love Potion

“There’s no time limit,” Jae says. “Of course, it’s possible there were always feelings, but maybe they weren’t understood before, or the person experiencing them wasn’t in a place to embrace it yet.”

“I’ve certainly been surprised by romantic feelings for a friend in the past,” Toni says.

A few people chuckle in agreement.

“Thank you.” I sit down slowly, replaying the conversations in my head. I want to go home and see Bane. I want to tell him that I think I might finally understand myself. It only took forty-two years.

After the presentation ends, Dylan puts his hand on my arm. “Good luck with your friend.”

I start to brush off the implication, but I can’t. Maybe I really should tell Bane all the things in my head, not just about my sexuality.

The idea sends a surge of panic through me. Bane means too much to me to risk what we have, and even if I told him that sometimes I feel hints of sexual attraction towards him, how lame is that? Asking a guy like Bane to settle for a lackluster sex life is ridiculous. I’d rather keep things just like they are than blow up the most important relationship in my life.

“Take care,” is what I say back to Dylan as I pull my phone out to order a ride home. There’s a text waiting for me from Bane.

Bane: Slow tonight. I’m already at home. Ridley, Salem, and Indy are closing up. Come to my room when you get home. I want to hear all about tonight.

Smiling, I type back a response.

Me: Class just ended. Be there soon.

I’ll figure out what to tell him on the way home. He’ll be happy for me, like he always is, then we’ll pick a video game to play and cuddle on his couch, like so many nights before. Maybe that’s good enough for now.

Maybe it has to be.

FOURTEEN

BANE

My stomach flutterswhen the door to my room opens and I hear Jerryn shrugging off his coat before he steps completely into the living room. He smiles, but I can already tell there’s something major on his mind. He doesn’t have much of a poker face.

“Hey.”

I smile back at him, patting the couch beside me. “Hey.”

He shuffles over, plopping down and dragging his hand through his hair to get it off his forehead. I keep quiet, giving him space to talk, but when he’s silent for too long, I prod a bit.

“Are you okay?”

Jerryn nods. “Yeah. I think, um, I think I finally understand what’s going on with me.”

My eyes widen. I wasn’t expecting that from a community seminar. “Yeah? Tell me more.”

“It was really cool,” Jerr says, holding my gaze. “The instructors were great and the questions people asked helped too. This guy who sat next to me shared some of his experiences, and I felt normal for a change.”

“Normal? Jerr, that’s huge.”

“I know.” He smiles softly. “You’ve been telling me for years that there’s nothing wrong with me, but when you’re the only person you know who experiences things the way I do, it doesn’t feel okay.”

I nod, reaching over to hold his hand.

“Being in a room with people who get it was eye-opening. I’m not broken, I’m just in a different spot on the sexuality spectrum than other people are.”

“That’s amazing to hear. I’m so glad you see that you’re not less than anyone else.”

He shrugs. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I’m not broken, but I am different.”

“Different isn’t bad though.”

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