“Bad. It’s time to let go.”
“Okay, later tonight. We’ll give them a proper burial.”
“Thank Christ.”
Her chin wobbles and I hate the sight of it.
“Come on, babe. You can’t be that attached.”
“I am. And that was the most beautiful wedding.”
“So was ours.”
She smiles. “Ours was perfect.”
“Weddings are good luck for us.”
“True.”
She glances over my shoulder. “I have an idea.”
“That’s never good.”
“Shut up, Houseman. You think Courtney will mind if we do a realest life post?”
“Who gives a shit if she does? We started it.”
She grins at me. “True, we did. And look, everyone is back at the table.” She grips my hand and pulls me from the dance floor.
Minutes later, we’re all groaning as Laney lifts her cell phone at various angles to take pics.
“Just one more,” she presses in as Lance, Troy, Clarissa, Laney, Harper, and I crowd in for the selfie. It’s when I study the six of us in her screen that nostalgia kicks in hardcore.
The friendships we have now are far more solid compared to the days where we were finding ourselves and fighting for these women who turned us into the better version of the men we’ve become. In the midst of low self-esteem among giants, I found a woman whose insides shine so fucking bright, all you can see is her. And somehow, I’ve managed to keep her amongst my madness, the chaos I’ve created with my music. The best part is she can hum along to every song because she’s half of my melody.
Troy managed to woo Clarissa while fighting his own battles, facing his lowest points, gunning for the life he’d always imagined for himself, even when he wasn’t sure he could have it.
And Lance, well, he’s been the biggest surprise of the three of us. In the worst circumstances imaginable, he fought to become a champion amongst men, a hero to other fighters, to his family, and bride.
Back then, I didn’t think I knew my roommates so well. Didn’t think I had a thing in common with them. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. Though our stories are vastly different, we all longed for the same thing—to belong—all the while figuring out who we were, trying to prove ourselves and win the affection of the women who would help us figure it all out. We may not have had the friendships we do now, but I have zero doubts crossing paths the way we did was a coincidence. Our stories stemmed from the same place, intertwined, and wouldn’t be what they are if it weren’t for each other. And we’ll be there for each other the way we have been the last couple of years and moving forward. Through every milestone, I’m sure of it.
“One more guys,” Laney pipes up, and everyone groans and gives up as she continues her search for the perfect picture. Lance and Harper get lip-locked in the back while Troy drunkenly starts talking to Clarissa’s stomach as she rolls her eyes. Laney grins, switching angles in an effort to get it all in. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Would you be done already?” I strain, my face close to hers in the front.
“I’m just trying to get a good shot. I need a selfie stick.”
“I forbid it. And you’ve taken seventy. Choose one.”
“A few more. It’s not often we get together like this. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’ve accepted a new job.”
“Awesome, can you take the pic and we can discuss it later. Wait, you took it, and you’re just now telling me?”
“The position just popped up.”
“What is it?”
“Mother.”