The Before

The Before

AGE: 26

Gianna walked into the living room with two glasses of wine that were a little fuller than was appropriate in polite society. But she and Riley weren’t in polite society; they were together, just the two of them, and it was a Saturday night.

“I have some sustenance,” she announced, before stumbling to a stop at the sight of Riley.

Sprawled out on Gianna’s couch, her hair splayed out under her like a halo. Her leggings and classic B.U. sweatshirt made her look cozy and cute and just so damn good .

Gianna only paused for a second to stare before she shook herself out of it like the seasoned professional at being in love with Riley that she was.

She cleared her throat, walking closer to the couch. “Now, fill me in one why I am graced with your impeccable company tonight when you had a date with Eager Eric.” She twisted her lips to the side in thought, sipping on her wine, before she clarified, “The sex date, if I’m not mistaken.”

She knew, in fact, that she was not mistaken. There was no way she could possibly be mistaken when it came to Riley talking about sex and how she’d discussed that she and Eric were likely going to get down tonight.

Riley blew out a disappointed sigh. “I think, unfortunately, we’re going to have to rename him to Egotistical Eric.”

Gianna had put her years of jealousy behind her. Really.

Riley had been telling her for years about her dates and her sexcapades, and Gianna did her due diligence as Riley’s best friend with no problem. Mostly because she wanted to hear every detail!

She supposed that was the double-edged sword of being in love with her best friend. Sure, sometimes hearing every detail of Riley’s search for love made her ache inside. Just a little. But she also genuinely wanted to know everything.

It was fine that Riley wasn’t queer, that Gianna had no chance at being the person that brought Riley romantic fulfilment or sexual satisfaction. She couldn’t fault Riley for her sexuality any more than she could fault herself for having fallen for Riley.

But Gianna would be damned if she didn’t hold Riley’s prospective love interests to a high standard.

So, her outrage was entirely genuine as her mouth fell open, indignant. “What did he do?!”

Riley groaned as she lifted her legs up to let Gianna sit down before she lowered them back down so her thighs rested over Gianna’s. “You know, it was our fourth date. And it was going really well.”

Gianna nodded. “Right. He took you to that amazing wine bar last week and he was a good kisser – all signs pointed to yes.”

Riley pointed at Gianna. “Yes! Thank you! So… the sex.”

Her tone was so dismal, it made Gianna snort with laughter before she grimaced. “How bad was it?” she asked, rubbing gently at Riley’s thigh in support.

“Oh my god , it was awful. All about him. Seriously, every second. I was naked in front of him, and he was more into his own body?” Riley’s face screwed up adorably in confusion. “I don’t get it. And that was before we even got started. But it really sums up the entire theme of the short-lived time together tonight. He was finished while I was only halfway there – and when I say he was finished? He was finished .”

“Hence why you’re ending the night here,” Gianna surmised, gesturing around them at her apartment.

Riley let out a sweet little sigh, pushing her up onto her elbow so she could take a hearty sip of her own wine that she’d been holding balanced on her stomach since Gianna had handed it to her.

“Look, I don’t care how long someone can last. I just care that you aren’t selfish after. Am I asking for too much?” Riley asked, turning her hazel eyes to Gianna, incredulous.

Oh, there it was. That little, tiny burning seed of jealousy.

Gianna had a good hold on her jealousy, truly. It would be impossible to have a healthy friendship with Riley, otherwise. But moments like this…

“No, babe, you are asking for the bare minimum,” she affirmed. “Egotistical Eric it is. And he sucks.”

Gianna could be a reasonable human about Riley having sex; she was an adult woman with a healthy – glorious – sex drive, and Gianna understood and supported that. The jealousy didn’t come for her over sex.

The jealousy reared its ugly head at the fact that there were people like Eric that had the opportunity to have sex with Riley, to make Riley come, to send her into the pinnacle of pleasure… and then didn’t.

Like, how dare he?! Didn’t he know what he had?

“He really, really sucks,” Gianna repeated darkly.