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Tashi goes to Art and Patrick after the match is over.
They’re still hugging. Their arms still wrapped around one another for the world to see. But Tashi doesn’t care. They’ve waited thirteen years for this, in a way. In that moment she isn’t caring what everyone else is thinking. Just that finally - finally Art and Patrick are back together. As friends. And more.
They invite her in. Art and Patrick move to let Tashi join them - the three hugging each other now as the spectators look on.
For those brief few minutes it’s just them.
The three of them.
And no one else.
Coming full circle.
All the sides of the triangle touching.
-
They deal with the press - not answering any comments about what just happened - take some fan photos and make their way back to the hotel together.
And thirteen years of pent up emotions burst.
In the quiet of the hotel room, they find each other again.
There’s no real talking.
Just movement.
-
It’s nearing midnight.
Patrick moves off of the bed in between Art and Tashi and goes out to the balcony for a smoke.
Art watches longingly as Patrick goes out onto the balcony. Tashi turns to him, the cool night air flowing into the room. Patrick hadn’t closed the door. Maybe because if he did he’d be afraid they wouldn’t let him back in. To the room or to themselves. “Well fuck.” Is what Tashi settles on, taking in the last however many hours of pent up subconscious or unconscious or conscious feelings been acted upon after such a long time. At least for Patrick.
Tashi glances over at Art, lovingly. Her eyes soften, thinking about them. The three of them. Art still hasn’t said anything. “Are you dealing with inner turmoil?” She asks.
Art doesn’t say anything at first. But then he turns to her, a look in his eyes. Anger mixed with relief mixed with nostalgia. He shrugs a little. “I didn’t know. Or didn’t realize. I didn’t think…” He trails off. He hadn’t realized he was in love with his best friend.
Emotions are complicated.
But love isn’t.
In all its forms.
Art swallows and gathers up the courage to talk. Actually talk. Because if it isn’t the lack of talking they hadn’t done in the last thirteen years, maybe things would have been different. Maybe if they’d sorted their shit out they would’ve gotten here sooner.
”I know I loved Patrick.” He starts. “I buried it. I didn’t think - Fuck. If we had just talked.” He fidgets with his hands. The weight of lives un-lived weighing on him.
On the three of them.
“We could’ve…” He trails off. It takes a few seconds before Art speaks again. “I know we were closer. Closer than best friends. We heard rumours. People talked. About me and Patrick being gay for each other. But Patrick always just… Brushed it off.” Art pauses. “He told me not to listen to them.” He pauses again. “But the first time…. the first time we heard it, there was a look on Patrick’s face. Towards me. I couldn’t place it. But I think I can now. It was a look of wanting.” He turns to Tashi. “I hadn’t realized that I felt the same way. Because it was just me and Patrick against the world. And maybe, if we had addressed the rumours back then… Sorted through our feelings… My feelings… Maybe things would have been different. I ignored the rumours and we just kept being… Us.” He smiles fondly at the memories of school.
Tashi knows and figures Art does too, that Patrick can hear their entire conversation.
“Maybe if society was more open and showed more than just couples - that three people can be together - we’d have had more to look up to.” Tashi commented.
"You mean besides maybe The Rules of Attraction in 2002. And those books Savages and The Kings Of Cool by Don Winslow. And the movie they made based on one of those books in 2012. And maybe a few others, where it wasn't obvious but it could have still been read that way." Art commented. "But yeah, what you said."
"Valid points." Tashi told him but moved on. She sighed. “It’s hard. Getting over something. Moving on. From anger. From the life I could have had.” She paused. “I know it’s not entirely Patrick’s fault, but part of it sure as fuck is. And I know he didn’t mean for it to happen… But it still happened and he didn’t help.” She says.
“I’m sorry.” They hear Patrick’s voice from the balcony and turn. He opens the door and walks through, sliding it closed and stands there, lingering. “I didn’t mean - I knew you had a match, I should’ve held off and we could’ve continued with the escalating conversation later.”
“Yeah, we should have left it after I got you off talking about Art.” Tashi says.
Art blinks. “What?” He asks.
Patrick grins.
“The blatant signs about your best friend being in love with you were right there.” Tashi comments.
Art sighs. “I was focused elsewhere and I’m not a mind reader and if I had been wrong…”
“Me coming out as bisexual to you clearly wasn’t enough.” Patrick comments before joining them back on the bed and making himself comfortable in between them.
“What did I just say.” Art mutters.
“So, you guys had your cathartic or whatever talk. Now it’s my turn.” Patrick says.
“Okay.” Tashi says.
“Fuck both of you for barely talking to me for thirteen years.” Patrick starts with.
“Well, fuck you for screwing Tashi in Atlanta.” Art says.
“I already said I was sorry.” Patrick says.
“And I know you are but I’m still mad.” Art says.
“We should’ve gone to a therapist or something in the last thirteen years since we clearly suck at talking.” Tashi comments.
“Probably would’ve been a good idea.” Art says.
“We’re not really therapy people.” Patrick says.
“Well someone needed to sort this shit out for us apparently.” Tashi says.
“Well, we’re sorting it out now.” Patrick says. “Anyways, back to my venting about you two hardly talking to me except some texts back in 2007 after it happened.”
“And you hooking up with my wife.” Art says. Then realizes something. “I think I’m mad more that you didn’t ask me to join.”
Tashi laughs and Patrick grins.
“Of course it is.” Tashi says.
“I’m still sorting stuff out.” Art huffs.
“We all are.” Patrick says. “Or at least voicing it out loud.”
“Like healthy adults.” Tashi comments.
“Back to me.” Patrick steers the conversation back. “I’m fucking angry that you didn’t talk to me. I get why. I understand why. But I’m still angry.” There’s tears in his eyes. He’s looking at Art. “You chose her over me. Do you know how much that fucking hurts.” His voice cracks.
Art’s eyes widen.
He thought about it over the years. How much he hurt Patrick. But Patrick had hurt Tashi. And moving on and past that was hard and still hadn’t really happened. They’d shared a few texts after her injury but then they’d just… Trailed off. Neither reaching out. And life had moved on.
Because life moves on. But you have to make the time for people. For friends, for lovers, people you care about. Because at the end of the day, they matter. Your relationships matter. People and time spent with them matter.
“I didn’t mean to, Patrick…” Art trails off. Because there’s nothing he can say that will make up for it. It’s thirteen years later. They can’t get that time back. But they can try and move forward, together. “I’m sorry.” He tells him.
“I know.” Patrick says. “People don’t always mean to do things. But we have to make the effort. To try not to do things that hurt people.”
“Did thirteen years of missing us teach you that?” Tashi asks.
“Yeah.” Patrick says.
“We’re all just… angry, nostalgic messes.” Art muses.
“No shit.” Tashi says. “Of the lives we didn’t lead. The lost time together…” Her voice is a mix of soften, nostalgic anger. She pauses and sighs. “I guess all we can do is make the most of it. Of our life together now.”
Patrick grins. “The three of us.”
Tashi rolls her eyes but smiles at the thought.
Art gives his lopsided smirk.
They were together at last.