Page 74 of Mr. Brightside

Oh. This isn’t playful banter anymore. He’s actually concerned about my relationship.

“Things with Cory couldn’t be better,” I assure him.

“Seriously?”

Well, now I’m just insulted.

“Yes, Rhett. Seriously. I mean, it’s not perfect, and we’re still learning and figuring each other out. But…”

Fuck. This isn’t why I called him. But I can’t help but want to gush about my husband.

“Things with Cory are incredible. I thought it would be easy with him, fun, even. But it’s so much more than that. There’s so much more to him. My life feels more vibrant with him in it. It’s like I’ve leveled up in ways I can’t even explain. There’s BC—before Cory—then there’s the now. And the now is fucking incredible.”

I pause, feeling the weight of my words as I confess my heart. “You there, Bro?” I’ve been rambling without any response from Rhett for so long, I’m worried the call may have dropped.

“Uh, yeah. I’m here. I’m just sort of… speechless.”

“Yeah, right. I can’t remember a time where you didn’t have something to say.”

“Ha ha. Believe me: Tori and I have had plenty of conversations about your marriage with benefits thing. Which, by the way, kudos to you for coming up with a relationship category that’s even more screwy than what she and I did for all those years.”

I smirk at his shrewd assessment of my marriage and his own relationship.

But that was then. This is now.

“I really like being married,” I confess, willing the sincerity in my voice to hold steady. “I really like being married tohim,” I clarify.

“I’m just so happy when we’re together. I can’t wait to get back to him when we’re apart. We have fun, and the sex—fuck—I didn’t realize all you people in committed relationships were having sex like this.”

Rhett chuckles in response.

“But it goes beyond fucking and having someone to come home to. He sees me in ways that I don’t even see myself. He pushes me. He forces me to be real when I’d much rather crack a joke or brush something off. He makes me feel good, but he makes me want more, too. More intimacy. More authenticity. More of him. I want to be a better person for him.”

Eventually I stop talking, but Rhett stays quiet. I inhale the biggest breath I can manage and let the sun warm my skin as I bask in the truth of the words I’ve spoken.

“Fuck, Jake. I was not expecting this from you,” he finally sighs into the phone.

I can’t help but grin. “You and me both, bro.”

“Wait. You said you didn’t call to talk about Cory. So what’s really going on?”

I toy with the idea of telling him about Julian like I had planned. He knows more about my history than anyone. But after gushing about Cory the way I did, I feel this urge to talk to my husband about the situation instead.

I’ve relied on Rhett for years. But he’s not the only one in my corner anymore. And in that moment, I realize Iwantto talk to Cory first.

“Eh,” I feign indifference. “Something came up, but it’s really no big deal. I guess I just wanted to talk to my best friend.”

“I feel that. I’m glad you called. Hey, listen. I’ve gotta get going. I promised Tori I was just running out to the store, and I’ve been sitting in the parking lot talking to you instead.”

Normally, this would be when I’d heckle him for being pussy whipped or tied down to an old ball and chain. But for the first time, I get it.

“I wanted to start talking Thanksgiving plans soon, although V says it’s too early to worry about that just yet.”

I shake my head at his type A tendencies. Some things never change.

“Originally I thought we’d go up to the cabin, but if you need to stay in town, we can just do it in Hampton at my parents’ house instead.”

My heart flutters at the idea of celebrating my first holiday with Cory. I freaking love Thanksgiving. The food. The drinks. The movie marathons. The way I get to slip into my gray sweatpants and complain about overeating for hours before committing to a steady diet of leftovers and pie for the rest of the weekend.