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CHRISTIAN: Vulnerability. That’s it! That’s what you need.
DREW: And he’s not the only one. Maybe if you shared a little more of your authentic self, Chris, you’d be able to make it past the three month point with one of the women you date.
CHRISTIAN: You’re assuming I want more than three months. Three months is plenty. You get all the fun of dating with none of the sticky parts and part ways as friends. Easy, low-stress, and not likely to interfere with my ability to function.
DREW: I know the breakup with Ashland wasn’t easy, but that was four years ago. Don’t you think it’s time you gave real feelings another try?
CHRISTIAN: I have to go. Kane’s here for a Furry Friends fundraising meeting. Good luck, Barrett. You’ve got this. I really believe that. You’re a smart guy and can do anything you set your mind to. Talk to you two later.
DREW: Bye, Chris.
BARRETT: Thanks, Christian.
From the texts of Barrett and Drew McGuire
DREW: Starting a new chat so Christian can’t see me ask if you think I pissed him off with the Ashland thing. I mean, she was a nightmare, but not every woman he dates for more than three months is going to be.
BARRETT: Of course not, but at this point, he’s made a habit of avoiding pain and risk. And habits are hard to break.
DREW: But he’s also avoiding happiness and love. And getting grouchier with every passing year. No offense, but he’s starting to remind me more of you than the laid-back guy he used to be.
BARRETT: No offense taken. I’ve been grumpy since the divorce. More closed off. I told Wren that, but I’m not sure she understood why I’m having such a hard time moving past those feelings.
DREW: Why are you having such a hard time? If you don’t mind sharing? I know finding out Lane was having an affair was horrible, but I thought you two had moved on and were okay now.
BARRETT: We are okay. But I don’t know if I’d be okay if it happened again, especially with Wren. I already feel things for her that I didn’t for Lane, not even when things were at their best.
DREW: You love her.
BARRETT: I do. But I’m not sure it matters. If I can’t make her feel it, what good is that? We’ll be doomed from the start. And she’ll end up doing the same thing Lane did—looking for someone outside our relationship who makes her feel the way she wants to feel. Maybe I should call off this do-over. Tell her it’s not her, it’s me, and beg her not to quit the practice.
DREW: Can you be happy with that? With Wren as your head nurse and nothing more?
BARRETT: She might still consent to be my friend. In time. She’s a good person like that. Very forgiving.
DREW: Okay. Say she does. Imagine you and Wren in a few years, still just two good friends who work together, and nothing more. Maybe she’s even invited you to her wedding. Or her baby shower. How do you feel about that?
BARRETT: I want to track down the man she married and cut his dick off.
DREW: Then I think you have your answer.
BARRETT; Fuck. I can’t screw this up, Drew. One do-over is already pushing it. If I need a second one, even Wren is going to start to lose patience.
DREW: Don’t stress. I have a friend in Excelsior. I’ll text him and get some recommendations for good places to go out.
BARRETT: Ask him about dance clubs. Wren wants to go back to the moment things went wrong and rewrite the ending.
DREW: Which is a good sign! It seems like she wants this to work out as much as you do.
BARRETT: She also made out with me in her bathroom this morning.
DREW: That’s an even better sign!
BARRETT: Not really. She got angry with me. After. She kept pushing to know why I left without saying goodbye that night. I told her I felt like it was best to leave on a high note, but the more I think about it, the more I know there’s more to it. I was just…overwhelmed. I had no idea I was attracted to Wren until that night, let alone that I had all these other feelings. And if I didn’t know that about myself, what else don’t I know?
DREW: Is that why you started therapy? Don’t get mad, but Mom saw you going into the Victorian office building on Elm and the only thing in there except the crystal store on the ground floor are counseling practices. She texted me to ask if I thought you were okay or if we should ask you about your feelings.
BARRETT: And you told her not to do that. Ever.
DREW: I did. I know you, brother. And I know you can figure this out with Wren. You don’t have to become someone else; you just need to be a more communicative version of the man she already cares for. Okay, just got a few suggestions for dinner and dancing from my friend. I’ll text those over now.
