“It’s going fast, but it feels so right. And that’s coming from a man who’s never said those words in his life. You know I don’t do feelings and shit.”
“As opposed to me, who always does everything by instinct.”
“Well, it seems to be working out for ya, so there’s that.”
“I’m so happy for you, Creek. So incredibly happy. Have you met his family yet?”
I shook my head. “Heath hasn’t told me much about them, but they’re dicks to him.”
“He’ll have a family through you now.”
“You mean you, Meadow, and Mom?” I didn’t talk to my mom that often, and Meadow had moved to New York, so it would be a while before she met Heath.
“No. I mean, yes, but mostly Nash, Bean, and Tameron. They’re your brothers, Creek, your other family, and they have been for a long time.”
They were. I rarely took the time to acknowledge it, but Forest was right. They were my chosen family, the guys who had always been there for me and always would be. “You’re still my baby brother.”
He patted my hand. “I know, and I don’t feel threatened or replaced. We have a history together too, but we live too far apart to have that same relationship you have with them…and that’s okay.” Then, his face darkened. “Though I’ve been considering moving.”
“Something wrong?”
“Texas, man. It’s not exactly moving in the right direction. Austin is fine, but outside of that bubble, we seem to be sliding backward. It may be time for me to move to somewhere where I can be myself without having to fear others’ reactions.”
“Move here. You know this is the most gay-friendly city in the US. And I’d love to have you closer. I miss you.”
“Twice in one day? My, my, big brother, the times really are a-changin’.” Then his smile faded. “I’ll think about it, okay? It’s not a decision I can make on a whim.”
“I know.”
We talked till deep in the night, and then, just like old times, we got ready for bed…and talked some more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
HEATH
Three weeks of having an official boyfriend, and I was happy. I was afraid to say it aloud—afraid I’d jinx it or tempt the universe to screw with us, but that didn’t change the fact that things were good. No, they were more than good. We couldn’t see each other as much as we wanted because Creek lived far away, and I was still dealing with end-of-year prep. But on the nights we could swing it, Creek was at my house, or I was at his.
We didn’t need anything fancy. We didn’t need candlelit dinners over the water or box seats at the opera house. We just needed this—lounging in my living room, in each other’s arms, trading kisses and easy touches. And when Creek was feeling a bit more playful, old drinking games I’d learned back when I was in my undergrads.
After the fifth cheese puff bounced off Creek’s forehead, he caught the sixth with his hand and shoved it in his mouth, glaring at me. “I didn’t miss shit by skippin’ college.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Trust me, you really didn’t. Like, I know some people peaked during their fraternity years, but those dudes are miserable. It was fine—you know, a lot of weed and staying up all night pretending like cramming was going to save our asses during finals, but life is better now.”
Creek cocked his head to the side, then glanced at the empty spot in my sweats where my leg should be. “Yeah?”
“Even this wasn’t as miserable as grad school was. I was on my own for all of it.” Emotion clogged my throat, and I had to clear it away. “My parents didn’t say a word to me for four years after they learned I wasn’t taking my MCATs.”
“That must have been hard.”
I shrugged, settling back into the cushions of my overstuffed sofa and turning to face him better. The bottom of his foot pressed against my stump, and mine rested along his thigh since his was far more sensitive than mine. “It was. I mean, I didn’t have to deal with them calling me every other week to tell me what a shitty son I was, but it still sucked to know how much I wasn’t worth in their eyes because I wouldn’t follow their plan.”
“Look, I don’t exactly have a leg to stand on when it comes to parents,” he said, then grinned. “So to speak. But I know bad ones when I see them, and you weren’t a shitty son.”
“No, I know,” I told him with a small smile. “Trust me, we’ve worked this over and over in therapy, and I don’t blame myself for anything. Just…they have a way of getting under my skin like no one else can.”
“Why do you let them?”
I blinked at him, a little irritated. “What do you mean? I can’t just turn it off. My feelings aren’t a light switch, Creek.”
