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If this is what he wanted, then I was along for the ride too.
“Ah, here comes Cyrus now,” Samantha announced, gesturing towards a man approaching our table, with close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair and wire-rimmed glasses that gave him a scholarly appearance. “Glad you made it. Cyrus, this is Ben and Leo. They’re Mangle’s first super couple.”
Wow. I glanced at Leo, biting his lip, trying not to laugh at Sam’s enthusiastic introduction. But soon we all shook hands and Cyrus sat down and ordered a drink for himself, relaxing into the booth.
“I want to thank you both for allowing me to record your conversation tonight,” Cyrus said, his voice soft yet firm. “I truly believe that your story has the potential to inspire others who might struggle with similar situations.” He removed a small, sleek recording device from his bag and placed it carefully on the table. He looked at each of us intently, his eyes searching for any signs of hesitation or discomfort. “Do you mind if I record our conversation?”
“Thanks, Cyrus. Go right ahead and record. We’re happy to share,” Leo replied, his voice steady and confident. I nodded as well, and Cyrus pressed a button on the device. Its red light blinked to life, signaling that it was now recording.
Leo and I exchanged glances, knowing that our story was about to begin.
Samantha leaned forward, her eyes glistening with curiosity. “So, tell me, how did you two first realize that there was more to your friendship than just camaraderie?”
Leo caught my eye, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Well, it all started when we matched on Mangle,” he began, his voice warm and inviting, drawing us all into the story. “I remember seeing Ben’s profile pop up on my phone the day after we downloaded the app. It said 99.9% match, and I thought, ‘This is crazy.’ He’s my best friend. If he were my perfect match, I’d already know, right?” Leo looked at me. “It took us a few days to let that all sink in, but then I realized that being matched with him made perfect sense.”
I paused, struggling to find the right words to explain what being matched with Leo meant to me. “Leo and I have been best friends since college. When we both got on Mangle, we’d both recently ended other relationships, so at the time, it seemed like a lark. Just two buddies giving the app a shot to help a friend.”
As we delved deeper into our love story, the atmosphere around the table became increasingly intimate. The pace of our conversation was slow and deliberate, giving each of us ample time to share our thoughts and emotions.
Cyrus, who had been listening intently, asked another question. “Were either of you ever afraid of pursuing this romantic relationship? Did you worry about losing what you already had?”
I swallowed hard, feeling a sudden vulnerability wash over me as I remembered those first few days, that sinking feeling in my stomach worrying about how my attraction to Leo might fuck things up between us. “Yes, it scared me at first,” I admitted. “We had such a strong friendship, and I didn’t want to jeopardize that by taking things to another level. But,” I added, meeting Leo’s gaze, “if we didn’t give it a chance, I would always wonder ‘what if?’”
Leo reached out and gently squeezed my hand, his touch reassuring and grounding. “Actually, Ben,” Leo began, his voice steady and confident, “dating you made perfect sense to me because of our strong friendship. We already knew each other so well; we had been through thick and thin together. I can’t imagine anyone else who could make me feel the way you do.” Leo reached under the table and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I laced my fingers through his, marveling at how perfectly our hands fit together. “Dating my best friend in the world made perfect sense,” Leo said simply.
My heart twisted with this sweet ache. We’d loved each other all along, even if we hadn’t seen it.
Cyrus leaned forward, his eyes bright with curiosity. “What surprised you the most when you started dating your best friend?” he asked.
Leo’s expression softened as he looked at me. “There were so many things about Ben that I didn’t know after all those years,” he admitted, a sense of wonder and affection in his voice. “I discovered how caring and thoughtful he can be—always planning these amazing date nights for us. And we have much more in common than I ever realized. Our values, dreams, what we want out of life—it almost feels too perfect, how fast we connected, moving past all those compatibility issues that happen when you first start dating someone.”
Samantha’s curiosity sparked further questions within her. “Were there any concerns or fears when you decided to date?” she gently probed.
I hesitated, figuring out how to express what Leo’s friendship meant to me. “I was definitely worried that pursuing a romantic relationship would change our friendship,” I told them. “Leo has always been my rock, and I didn’t want to lose him. But it only strengthened our bond. My best friend became my lover, and it turned out to be an incredible gift. Our connection deepened beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Cyrus shifted his attention to Leo, intrigued by his story. “You’ve only dated women before, Leo; were you surprised when you matched with Ben?” he asked curiously.
Leo let out a soft chuckle, looking down at his beer. “Yeah, but also no,” he pondered. “I mean, there had to be a reason we clicked so well as friends, right? We’ve always understood each other and could truly be ourselves. I never saw Ben in a romantic light before, but once the idea presented itself, it just made sense. It took an outside perspective to point out what was probably always there—potential for something more.”
Samantha’s smile brimmed with joy as she continued her inquiries. “And how do you feel about it now?” she asked warmly.
Leo’s voice overflowed with gratitude and awe as he spoke from the depths of his heart. “I feel incredibly lucky,” he said sincerely. “Being with Ben feels right in a way that no other relationship ever has. We have so much fun together; we laugh every day. And we can truly be vulnerable with each other—I trust him completely. I’m grateful beyond words to have found love with my best friend.”
“That’s beautiful,” Samantha said. “It’s clear you two share a very special connection.”
Cyrus looked thoughtful. “That’s exactly the story we want to share through the app. An organic love that grew out of a deep friendship.”
As we left the pub later, Leo tossed his arm over my shoulders as we walked a few steps down the street to where the Uber would pick us up. “I meant what I said in there,” he murmured. “You really are magical to me.”
It still surprised me how Leo’s words affected me like no one else. “You’re my magic too,” I whispered. As I looked at Leo, this incredible man who had transitioned from my best friend to my lover, I knew there was no one else I would rather have by my side.
twenty
Leo
As we stepped out of the Uber in front of Rebar, the thumping bass from the gay dance club called to us. The bright neon lights illuminated the entrance, casting colorful patterns on our faces. Excitement mixed with nerves bubbling up inside me as we entered. The sight of shirtless, toned men dancing provocatively on raised platforms sent a jolt of anticipation through me—and a few jitters.
It wasn’t my first time in a gay club, but it was the first time since Ben and I started fucking and now it had a fresh feeling. Were these my people now? Would they look at me like some outsider?
