“But before I do… I need you to promise me something.”
Jamie crosses his arms, wary.
“Okay…”
“Whatever is said in this room stays in this room,” I say.
“And whatever happens – if anything happens – never leaves these four walls. And it doesn’t get used against each other when we’re… you know. Fighting.”
Jamie’s elbows lift.
“Lex… what the hell is going on?”
My mouth is dry. My hands are sweating. This is ridiculous – I’ve never been nervous in front of him before. Never been nervous, period.
“How did you know you were gay?” I ask finally.
Jamie freezes.
“And how did you accept it? How did you… stop being ashamed of it?”
He swallows, taking a small step toward me.
“Are you… Lex… are you coming out to me right now?”
“Yeah… I guess I am,” I whisper.
“Look, I know it’s probably weird. I know I’ve been a dick to you – before our parents got married, and after. I know I’ve made jokes, and laughed with people I shouldn’t have, and… yeah. But somehow, I’m trusting you with this secret of mine. Trusting you with this part of myself. And I really hope I’m not going to regret it.”
Jamie stares at me like I’ve just become someone he’s never met before.
“Have you ever kissed a guy?” he asks softly.
My voice barely makes it out.
“No.”
His lips part.
“Never?”
“I’ve kissed plenty of girls,” I say quietly.
“But never a guy.”
Jamie takes another step toward me. The air tightens, thickens. When he speaks, his voice is barely above a breath.
“Do you want I don’t know… kiss me?”
For a moment, I’m convinced I’m hearing shit.
There’s no way this is actually real. There’s no fucking way he just said it. No way he actually—
“Yes,” I say.
He lets out a shaky laugh.
“Good. Because I… want that too.”
