A Simple Life: Chapter 159 (Patreon)

Kayla and Briar are all smiles as Winona and I share a little moment of joy. She knew what this revelation meant to me and was as happy as I was that it went well. Reaching over to me Kayla takes my other hand to give it a supportive squeeze. Our eyes meet and in an instant I saw her nothing but respect. She and I had known each other a long time, and hopefully many more years to come, but we both knew that this moment right here was undoubtedly going to be one of the highlights of our friendship.

“Do you have a girl name?” Briar asks before popping a roasted cauliflower in her mouth to munch on.

“Mm.” I shrug. “We kinda just c-call her…me baby girl.”

“Baby girl.” Kayla says. “That’s so fuckin hot. How did you figure it out so quick with Winona?”

“She m-makes me feel brave.” I smile. “That…um…and she l-literally held me d-down to do me up like Althea.”

“Pfff!” Kayla guffaws and playfully smacks Winona’s arm. “You bully!”

Winona kisses the side of my head. “It wasn’t quite like that. I was just helping him get into character. I put him some jewelry and stuff.” She pauses. “I may have held him down for the makeup. He didn’t exactly fight me though.” She pets my hair. “I can still remember how she looked up at me…she was so beautiful.”

I glance over at her then cuddle into her side. “That m-might have been the m-moment I fell in love with you.”

“By then I was already hooked.” She says softly.

“Awww!” Briar swoons. “That’s sooooo romantic! Maybe Althea isn’t just a character. Maybe she was in there all along.”

“Um…maybe. I think so, in a w-way. B-But…I th-think Avery is a g-g-good name too. For both?”

“Avery is a beautiful name.” Winona says, running a hand down my back.

“I need to p-practice more.” I say. “I’m still figuring myself out. I’m still l-learning.”

“Pronouns?” Briar asks.

“Um…he?” I say. “Unless I’m her? I dunno. I’ve n-never thought about it. Wh-What is the right way?”

“I don’t know there is a right way.” Briar says. “It’s kinda person to person from what I understand.”

“Um…I’m a him usually. I guess? B-B-But you can me her if you w-want. Um, just in p-private for now. If that’s okay.”

“It’s cool, bestie. It’s all cool.” Kayla says. “You just keep us up to date, okay?”

“Mm.” I nod

“What’s it like for you? Being a girl I mean.” Briar asks.

“I’ve only been one with Winona and with m-myself, but, um…fun. Really fun.” I say. “And I feel so pretty and sexy and…I dunno. It’s whole d-different energy. I feel different. I w-walk and talk different. It f-feels really good.”

“Can I hear?” Kayla asks.

“I’d b-b-be embarrassed.”

Kayla pats my hand. “Please? Briar and I won’t laugh or anything.” Briar nods as she chews.

I look at Winona for some courage then back to Kayla. I take a deep breath then reply in my soft voice. “Okay.” I say. “This is wh-what I sound like as a w-woman.”

“Oh my God!” Kayla leans back and looks away, eyes closed and hand over her mouth. Just when I thought something was wrong she looks back at me. “I swear to God you just made me wet right then.”

“Kayla!” I laugh.

“Sorry!” She holds her hands up. “This is a lot to take for me, okay? You’re hot enough as a dude, but as a chick!? GEEEZ!”

“Stop.” I blush.

“Easy there, Kay.” Winona warns Kayla. “You know I’m the jealous type.”

“I know, I know. It’s just…MMM! It’s not fair to hog her to yourself!”

“He he he.” Winona chuckles as she nuzzles into my hair for another kiss. “I guess monogamy has it’s advantages, mm?”

I giggle and soak up Winona’s attention.

“You are reeeally pretty.” Briar says as she studies my face. “I bet you could pass, easy.”

“Oh! Um…” My cheeks continue to warm at all these nice words. “Th-Thank you.”

“Hey!” Kayla claps her hands. “It just hit me. Tonight just became a girl’s night out! HA HAAA!”

“We’re j-just shopping.” I giggle.

“Hell yeah we are! Babe! Girl Boss mix.”

“Yes Kayla.” There is barely a three second pause as the song that was playing cuts off to be replaced by a Taylor Swift anthem of empowerment.

Beside me I hear Winona mutter under her breath. “Ugh.”

Kayla pops out of her chair and starts dancing toward the fridge. “Let’s get this night started right, ladies! Who wants some bubbly!”

“I don’t drink.” Says Briar.

“I’m driving.” Says Winona.

“No thank you.” I say, wanting to have a clear head for the shopping.

She stops and looks back at us. “You serious?”

We all nod as one.

“Buncha boring ass bitches!”

We all laugh as one.

There’s a bit more well-meaning question and answer but as I was still figuring things out myself I rarely had any solid answers for them. With kindness and patience they take my replies in stride and were absolutely amazing about everything.

What happened next I think might have been the most special part of the whole meal for me. We all simply went back to eating and talking as we had been before. There was a lot more excitement about the shopping trip now, on my behalf, but otherwise things were back to normal. My big announcement had been heard, embraced, celebrated and accepted. There was no need to go on and on about until I started to feel weird or freaky or even begin to question myself. They simply accepted this new part of me and kept on rolling. Some people might have liked to hold the spotlight for longer after such a moment but I was so relieved just for everything to feel normal again.

No. Not normal. Better than normal. My soul felt lighter. My heart felt free. And as we spoke with me dipping now and then and again into my girl voice as my confidence slowly grew it dawned on me that something had changed between us. Something I couldn’t put my finger on at first. They weren’t speaking to me or treating me any better or worse, but something was different. Something in their humor, in their looks, in their insider comments, in what we talked about and how we talked.

Tears are brought to my eyes as it finally hits me what had changed. Suddenly I wasn’t the only guy in a room full of girls. Suddenly…I was one of them! I was just one of the girls. At least, that’s how they made me feel.

“Oh!”

“Avery?” Kayla stops mid-sentence as she notices my glimmering blue eyes. “You cool, girl?”

I look around at each of them before blurting. “Thank you!”

Winona chuckles and rubs my back. “For what, baby?”

“Um…um…just for….um…” I give up trying to explain it. “I l-love you guys!”

“Aww!” Kayla rushes around the table to hug me on the opposite side from Winona. “We love you too, Avery!” Reaching out for Briar she pulls her into the group hug as well. I sit in the center of a great big friend’s embrace feeling like the luckiest dang gal in the world.

Chapter 160