When Ty and I finish playing volleyball with the guys at the park, I grab my backpack from the picnic table where we always put our stuff.

“Hey, man, mind giving me a lift back to my place?” Ty asks as he comes up beside me.

It’s not the first time I’ve given him a ride after we’ve played volleyball, but it’s the first time he’s asked since our fallout. I can tell by the sympathetic expression on his face that this is one of many peace offerings he’s extended since all this shit went to hell.

It’s been a few weeks since he came into my office with that pizza and helped me sort through my thoughts about the fight Eric and I had, and while things still aren’t the best between Ty and me, I don’t expect that. They’re better than before, though, and that’s all that matters. It gives me hope.

I agree to take him back to his condo, and as we walk to my car, we chat about the game and the gang before Ty says, “Did Eric tell you he’s talking to my mom tomorrow…about you-know-what?”

“He may have had a mini-breakdown about it,” I say. “He’s not exactly thrilled.”

“Really? Because I’m ecstatic. I want to hear how this all plays out… Eric telling my mom that he’s fucking around with my best friend. I’m sure she’ll be stoked about having you over for dinner parties.”

I’m blushing at the thought. “God, that’s gonna be awkward.”

“Hey, it’s only fair, considering I’m not exactly eager to see your parents since all this went down, which by the way, I do feel like I deserve your dad’s lasagna at some point, so if you could make that happen…”

We reach my car, and I walk around to the driver’s side while he waits at the passenger’s side.

“Yeah, I think I can make that happen, Ty.”

He smiles before we get in, and I head to his place.

I turn the music up. I don’t want this to get any more awkward than it is, since there’s plenty of opportunities for that on the ten-minute ride to his building.

He’s quiet for a bit before he says, “We could swing by that pizza place we used to go to, maybe grab a bite to eat…if you don’t have plans with Eric, that is.”

“We were going to make dinner, but—”

“Oh, well, then don’t…”

“Ty, I really want to get pizza, so I’ll just text him. It’s not a big deal.”

Eric wouldn’t want me to miss out on this chance to reconnect with Ty any more than I do. Besides, considering how much time Eric and I have spent together these past few weeks, attending therapy and yoga sessions… And on top of those, we’ve started taking tango lessons at Carolyn’s recommendation. She said she thought it would benefit Eric to learn how to follow instead of trying to lead all the time…giving up some control to me in a less triggering environment. Can’t say either of us is particularly good, but it’s fun learning something new with Eric. Hell, everything is better when Eric’s involved.

Ty and I head to the local pizzeria we used to frequent and get our usual Meat Lover’s.

We sit across from each other in a booth, and as he devours a slice, I think about how lucky I am to have him in my life still—this guy who gets me so much that he fucking gets me a pizza and forces me to open about shit, even when that’s the most difficult thing for me in the world.

Ty talks through chewing, telling me about some work shit.

It’s nice doing this again. I wish I could pretend everything’s all better between us and that we’re fine, but I can’t shake the feelings I carry about what I did…about how I hurt him…or how amazing he’s been to me in spite of all that.

As he’s being open about his life, I can feel this lingering discomfort between us—a wall that reminds me of the walls I am still tearing down with Eric. The difference is that these walls weren’t there when Ty and I first met.

But now, because of what Eric and I did, we have to fight this battle. I’m lucky he’s willing to fight with me.

We get to talking about some of the shit I’ve been hearing on Rocks and Hard Places and Damn Interesting when the waitress places the check on the table.

I reach for it, but Ty’s too quick for me as he nabs the bill, a sneaky expression across his face. “Uh-uh. You’ve been guilt-paying one too many times, and even though I’m enjoying taking advantage of you and stealing all the mad monies you’re making at your bougie-ass job, I can at least pay while I’m still getting a good salary.”

“What do you mean?”

He hesitates for a moment, his expression twisting up…like he’s considering telling me something. “Don’t tell Eric this because I want to be the one. Already talked to my boss about getting my certification. They’re going to find a way to work with me a bit so that I can cycle out and train another guy to take my position. That way I can go back to school in the fall and be a student all over again.”

“Are you serious, Ty?”

“I know, right? Who woulda thought I’d be the one going back to school?”

“I’m really impressed. Jesus, I remember you making fun of grad students because you couldn’t imagine going back once you broke out of the joint.”

He laughs. “I’m surprised I wanted this too, but I think if I’ve learned anything these past few months, it’s that sometimes you got to take a risk, even if it fucks up everything.” As he speaks the words, he looks directly into my eyes. It’s not approval, not exactly. That would be too much. But it’s still a lot coming from him.

More than what he said, the fact that he’s even trying to soothe this uneasy tension that remains between us…he can’t know what that means to me.

We chat a little more about his plans before we leave and drive to his place.

I park in the lower parking deck with the entrance to the building. He fishes his duffel bag out of the back seat, closes the door, and heads to the passenger’s side, ducking down as he rests his hands on the window sill.

“Remember when you used to park here and we’d go up and watch a movie in my condo…or we would have gone out to a bar and gotten drunk?”

“Yeah,” I say, wondering where he’s going with this.

Ty’s lips curl into a wry smirk. “I miss those times.”

“I miss them too, Ty.”

“Not saying we can do those things, or that I want to do them with you right now, but you know, maybe one day, five years from now, when I don’t hate your guts.”

I laugh. God, he’s the best. “Guess we’ll take it one day at a time.”

“That’s right, man,” he says. “One day at a time. Later.”

Waving, he offers a goofy expression—narrowed eyes, his tongue hanging out. Then he whirls around and heads toward the door into his building.

One day at a time…

With Ty. With everything.