“Is it just bitter blood?” Haze muses.
“You want to know something very strange?” Briar asks. We nod. “Kairo was over last night for dinner. He spent an hour playing with Emerson before we ate, which we know is why he was there. But while we ate, he made a comment that alluded to something along the lines of hating how they treated Noaz. Specifically Noaz, which Noaz later commented on since Kairo was never a protector as a kid. He was always an instigator.”
“We saw a bit of that,” Levis says. “Seems like Loren anticipated it was coming, too. He not only blew out all our eardrums, but he brought a fucking knife to dinner.”
“Arguably, we were having meat. He might have needed the knife,” Honey Bee says.
We all stare at her, but she simply shrugs. Oakley isn’t bothered by the knife. I didn’t see it, having already left the room with Axl.
“We know that most bullying is learned. It stands to reason that Kairo was a dick to Noaz because their parents were,” Haze suggests. “As Lev pointed out, Loren was ready for it, which means he expected it. That wasn’t the first time he’s witnessed it.”
“Did you know that Daddy Jalon had custody of all his brothers?” Honey Bee asks. “I was under the impression it was just Noaz because of their close age with Myro.”
“I didn’t,” Briar says. “I knew about Noaz because they often went home with Jalon. I’m not even sure Noaz realized.”
“I have so many questions,” Honey Bee says with a huff.
“Unsurprisingly, the Van Dorens have a whole house full of secrets,” I muse. We stare at the big house in the distance.
“Speaking of secrets,” Oakley says, “when were you going to tell us about you and Voss?”
There’s a part of me that wants to deny it to get the attention off me, but I also kind of love our relationship, so I don’t hate the idea of telling them. “I don’t know.”
“It wasn’t long ago that something was bothering you concerning Voss,” Honey Bee reminds me.
I glance at Levis and we share a smile. Something that our friends don’t miss. “Okay. Fine. I’m graysexual, demiromantic, and pansexual. Voss and I have been dating for a while.” I shrug.
“Wow,” Oakley says. “That’s a lot of new information.”
“Yeah. It’s been fun coming to understand something new about myselfyet again.” I frown.
“That’s why you were struggling,” Honey Bee says.
“Yeah. Also, we all know how completely accepting I am of change.”
Oakley snorts. I toss a handful of grass at him in response.
“Change being Axl’s birth?” Honey Bee asks.
“No. I guess maybe it wasn’t change so much as my insecurities. Not having to do with Axl.”
“Are you playing daddy?” Haze teases.
“No, I’m playing the boyfriend of a dad.”
My friends chuckle.
“You’re doing better now though, yeah?” Levis asks. “You look better.”
“Yes, thanks.”
“Okay, so let me see if I got this straight,” Honey Bee says. “Oakley has a husband. Briar has a spouse. Haze has a boyfriend. Breky has a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend… Hmm.”
All eyes turn to Levis. He rolls his eyes. “I don’t need a boyfriend just to fit in,” he muses.
“You could be the weirdo with a girlfriend,” Haze says.
“Or I can just be single.”
