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“Okay, I think that concludes the evening. Nick, can you give Charlie a ride home?” Elle said with a sour look at Tao. Tao didn’t see because he was still locked in a staring contest with Charlie.
“Sure,” Nick said cautiously. Then he softly put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Char?”
The touch made Charlie jump a little, breaking eye contact with Tao. With a fake smile he turned to Nick. “Yes, thanks, good idea.”
Once they were both gone Elle turned furiously towards Tao. “Was that really necessary?”
Tao stared at his shoes. “We’ve all been thinking it,” he said defensively.
“It was yesterday, Tao! I don’t suppose I have to tell you how utterly stupid it was to basically say ‘I told you so’ after merely 24 hours!”
“Come on, Elle,” Isaac soothed. “Yes, the timing was shitty, but it had to be said.”
“I know those two are oblivious idiots! I just don’t think that telling Nick Charlie’s in love with him mere hours after another Charlie-relationship imploded was helpful!”
Tao glared at Elle. “And what would you have done? Keep your mouth shut? Wait until he throws himself head first into the next fling that is doomed from the start?!? I couldn’t do it!”
“He was hurt! Don’t you get that?”
“Of course I do! God, do you really think I like seeing him like that?”
“You should have waited,” Elle whispered tearfully.
Isaac put his arms around her shoulders. “We all hate seeing Charlie like this. But however ill-timed Tao’s intervention was, let’s hope it’ll work out.”
The silence in the car was heavy.
“I’m sorry,” Charlie finally mumbled.
“For being in love with me?”
“Yes. And I’m sorry you had to hear it like this. I should have told you. I just couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”
Nick suddenly swerved the car half onto the pavement, killing the engine. He turned to Charlie. “You are an idiot, Charlie Spring!”
“Wow! What a way to cheer me up.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m an idiot, too.”
“Ooooookay?”
Nick’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t you know that you were my bi awakening?”
“Wait - what?”
Nick nodded and cradled Charlie’s face. “And don’t you know that you are the reason I’m still single?”
“You … why? How?”
“I came out for you, Char! For both of us.”
“But - that was years ago!”
“Told you, we’re both idiots!”