KENO
I’m holding my breath.My mother’s eyes are fucking wide. My father looks blank-faced, unsure of what to think.
But it’s Edna’s expression that makes my heart stop. She’snothappy.
“Really?” Edna asks. “Are you joking before you tell us something else to take the edge off or something?”
“No,” Etna says. “I’m marrying Keno. We’re getting married this June after we don’t win the Stanley Cup but someone else does.”
His father snorts.
“But… why?”
“Edna,” his mother hisses again.
Edna huffs. She’s not happy. Not at all. She’s glaring at me and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. When she looks at Etna, I half expect him to tell her he’s joking. We’ll think about it. Something so she’s not upset.
“I think you should think about it,” Edna says.
“Oh, for crying out loud,” his mother huffs. “I swear, if you weren’t an adult, I’d send you to your room for how rude you’re being.”
Edna doesn’t answer her. She doesn’t look away from Etna.
I’m holding my breath again. Unsure how this is going to go. It comes puffing out of me when Etna wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into his side.
“Your only response should be to be supportive,” Etna says.
“But I?—”
“Enough!” Etna snaps and Edna flinches. “I love you, Eddy. You’ve always been the most important person in my entire life. I expected a whole lot better from you. I’m marrying Keno. Youronlyoption is to get on board and support me. Do you understand?”
She presses her lips together but doesn’t answer. Her eyes say it all. She’s pleading with him to change his mind.
We just met. How can she possibly hate me?You turned my brother gay. The accusation makes me cringe, even if it’s just from my own mind.
“Congratulations,” my father says.
When I turn my attention to him, my mom is smiling. She breaks away from where she’s standing and wraps us both in a hug that we have to bend over for. Relief floods me.
“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry for the initial reaction,” she says. “I’m surprised. I know what the media says, but you always assured me you’re…”
“Not gay,” I supply. I shrug. “There’s a longer explanation for that, but maybe it can wait until morning. We’ll let things settle tonight.” My eyes flicker to Edna.
“Of course, baby,” Mom agrees.
I’m even more relieved when Etna’s parents both wrap us in a group hug together. I could almost cry. The idea of not being supported and accepted byhisfamily would have fucking wrecked me.
“Wearehappy for you. As Luciana said, we were surprised,” Etna’s dad says.
Etna nods. “I know. We wanted to tell you in person. It felt like the right thing to do.”
“It was. Let’s turn in, hm? We can talk about it further tomorrow,” his mom suggests.
Thankfully, we do that. I practically run down the hall to escape into the bedroom. Etna hesitates in the doorway. He sighs. “I’ll be right back.”
I nod and watch as he backs away, closing the door behind him. His sister doesn’t have the power to make him change his mind, does she? The way my gut twists has me concerned I might throw up. This should be a good first Christmas together. It should set the tone.
