“I really missed you,” she finally croaks. “And I can’t believe that I was so messed up to you when you were trying to tell me something important. I know how hard it can be when you come out for the first time. I shouldn’t have jumped on you like that. It was such bullshit and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I…I’m sorry.”

Worry creases her forehead. At least it means she’s been thinking about this, about me, as much as I’ve been thinking about her. I open the door wider, stepping outside with her.

“I wanted to tell you sooner,” I say, biting the inside of my cheek. “But I sort of figured—”

“That I’d act like that.” She sighs, grabbing at her hair. “I suck.”

My face softens.

“Only a little,” I admit, hooking an arm around her shoulder. She blinks, surprised. “And anyway, I don’t really know if I count as bi.”

“You do,” she says with authority. I raise a brow, and she pauses for a second. “I don’t…I know I was really shitty about it, but you definitely do, if that’s how you feel. Lydia had a lot of weird feelings when she first came out, too. Maybe you guys can talk about it.”

It’s hard to imagine Lydia going through a sexuality crisis. She’s told me about other boys she’s dated—notably, some kid named Kevin freshman year, before I transferred over. She also talks about girls she’s crushing on all the time.

Maybe it’s part of the reason why we became friends so quickly. Lydia and Claudia are here and queer and don’t think twice about it. They’re sort of like my dads in that way. Maybe, even before we started talking about bisexuality, I already knew we were alike.

“I’m really sorry,” Claudia says again. “And I get it if you’re still pissed, but I’m glad you let me come over.”

I knock my shoulder against hers. It’s the first time she’s apologized for anything, at least to me. I’ll take it.

“Wanna go inside?” I ask, gesturing toward the door with my head. “If we keep talking like this, I might cry.”

She laughs. I’m not joking.

Claudia waves at the car, which Lydia promptly jumps out of. It doesn’t take long for her to run over or snake her arms around my neck. I hug her into my other side. If my throat weren’t full of tears, I’d tell them how much I missed them.

I’m sure Brie and Claudia would be married to each other by now if they were single. I barely got through introductions before they started giggling in the corner. Giggling. Brie and Claudia.