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Me:You’ve just sighed your figurative death warrant by putting sexting on the table *devil emoji*
2
ELLIE
Just over a week ago my best friend and I made a monumental, life-altering decision. We tore up our contracts with the network who owns the adventure travel show we’ve worked on for the past seven years, cutting all ties with the entire production team. Aidan even fired his asshole agent—the one who’d encouraged him to stay closeted all this time. I didn’t have to fire anyone because said asshole dumped me a few years ago when I transitioned. Not marketable enough, apparently.
It cost us a fair bit of cash to get out of the contracts, and it was kind of heartbreaking to completely hand over the reins to something we’ve both worked so hard on. I mean, we’ve been working on this show since we were fresh out of college and backpacking around the world on a shoestring budget with nothing but a GoPro and a YouTube channel. But it was also for the best. I’m not sure I realized just how much working with all those transphobic assholes was actually getting to me until I finally walked away. This past week I’ve felt so unbelievably free; it’s been amazing.
Now we just need to come up with our next steps. We’ve already decided we want to produce our own brand new show, where we have all the control and creative influence. And we’ve decided it’s going to be based here in the States. Aidan is completely burned out from all the non-stop overseas travel, and frankly I’m not doing much better. And considering Aidan now has his new boyfriend to consider, staying local seems to be the best choice for everyone.
And speaking of Aidan’s new boyfriend…the moment I step into the living room after returning home from Finn’s hotel, I’m assaulted with the image of Aidan and Ben grinding all over each other right there on the couch.
“Argh. Seriously?” I cry, slapping a hand over my eyes.
As someone who’s been there with Aidan over the past decade while these two were working out all their shit, I’m thrilled beyond words that they’refinallytogether and in a happy place. But do theyreallyneed to make up for lost time in the middle of the living room? The fact that it’s actually Aidan’s living room is completely irrelevant right now.
The pair manage to peel themselves off each other and sit up, Aidan sending me a less than impressed look.
“What’s with the grumpy face?” Ben asks. “Didn’t you just come from a whole weekend of hot sex?”
“Yeah, but I’m not having sexnow,”I grumble.
Ben shrugs. “Maybe you should be.”
“No, no, no, no,” Aidan cries, shaking his head dramatically. “Can we pleasenottalk about Ellie and my brother having sex?”
“At least I’m not doing it right in front of you,” I say pointedly. “Besides, Finn and I won’t be having sex for a while. He’s going home today, and we’ve decided to sort of…cool it.”
“Cool it?” Ben asks, clearly skeptical.
I bite my lip, wondering how much to tell them. Finally, I just decide to spill everything.
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” Aidan says, clearly unimpressed.
“What are you going to make him do if you win?” Ben asks.
I shrug. “I’m not sure. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Aidan just shakes his head mournfully. “Hope you know what you’re doing, El. Finn’s one of the most competitive people I know. He won’t back down easily.”
The next morning,while Ben is off at work, Aidan and I sit down to have a serious discussion about our plans.
“So, you’re still set on Austin?” I ask him, gently blowing my mug of tea before taking a hesitant sip.
He nods. “Yeah, definitely. Ben finishes up here on Friday and he’s already got some interviews lined up over there next week, so we’ll go over on the weekend and get started looking for a place.”
My eyes widen. “Jeez. That was fast.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, but there’s not much point delaying it now we’ve decided. Especially not with Ben finishing up work here.”
I shrug. “Yeah, I guess.” It’s going to be strange, living permanently in a completely different city to Aidan. It’s not as though we’ve spent every single second of the last decade or so together, but it kind of feels like it sometimes. Between sharing an apartment in our last year of college, then traveling the world on our own and for the show— sometimes bunking down in incredibly tight quarters—it definitely feels like we’ve been in each other’s pocket for a long time. Really, the only time we’ve been apart for any considerable length of time was when I took leave from the show for my transition. But even then, Aidan came to visit me as often as he could. “I’m going to miss your stupid face,” I say with a pout.
He offers a fond smile. “You could always come with us? Well…notwithus. But you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass,” I say wryly. “I’ll come visit a lot but relocating permanently to Texas isn’t on my to-do list. Besides, we agreed me staying on the East Coast would be better for this new show.”
Aidan nods. “Of course, yeah. The show—what were you wanting to call it again?”
