“I’m bisexual, Mom,” I tell her, and it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s something I’ve needed to admit to myself since I was twelve when I realized that guys were attractive to me, but I lied to myself instead until Gage.
“Okay,” she says, nodding her head. “Okay. I can handle this.”
“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?” I say dryly.
She gives me the mom look again. “Don’t be a smartass.” She drops my hands and folds hers in her lap. “Are you happy?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“So, this is like an open relationship?”
“No. We’re loyal to each other.”
Her eyes widen again. “She’s not dating your brothers too, is she?”
I bark a surprised laugh. “No. It’s me, Gage, Ryder, Dex, and Holden.”
She lets out a shuddering sigh. “I don’t know if I could have handled that.”
“I know this is a lot to take in, and I didn’t want to tell you thisway,” I retake her hands, “But just know Iamhappy with her and Gage. And with the other guys. They are like my family.” Even Ryder, if I have to admit it. He’s grown on me since he’s been taking care of me; it’s shown he isn’t the gigantic dickhead I thought he was. Most of the time.
“Will I get to meet them?”
I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know. We all live here together, but that would be up to them.”
She nods in understanding and leans back on the couch. I put my arm around her shoulders, hugging her close. I did miss the hell out of her. We sit there, lost in our thoughts, and I give her time to process.
“It was the dimples, wasn’t it?” she asks about fifteen minutes later.
I laugh, knowing she’s talking about Gage. “That was part of it.”
“He’s…bisexual then?” she asks hesitantly.
“He is openly bisexual. He has been for a long time.”
“And Alessa is okay with you guys being together?” she asks softly.
“Alessa just wants us all happy. Two of the other guys are also maybe kind of dating.” I have no idea how to explain what I saw with Holden and Ryder this morning. I know they had Alessa screaming down the house, and then they were making out in the kitchen.
“I just want you to be happy and…safe,” she says, and I frown. Does she mean using protection? Because that ship sailed a long time ago. Alessa assured me they’re all clean, and I assume she has the implant for birth control even though we haven’t talked about it.
“What do you mean safe?”
Mom suddenly looks uncomfortable. “I know who Frankie was.” She searches my face and still sees the confusion. “I knowwhohe was.”
Did Mom know Frankie was Mafia? Does that mean she figured out Evander and Mateo also are? And Alessa?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say because I’m not confirming or denying that. The more sheknows, the more danger she’s in.
“I know there are some things you can’t tell me, Leo.” She sits up. “I just need you to promise me you will be safe.”
“Hey, man. Have you seen…” Micah strolls into the room with his nose stuck in his phone. He looks up and stops mid-sentence when he sees Mom. “Who’s this?”
“My mom, Katherine. Mom, this is Alessa’s uncle, Micah.”
“Oh,” Micah opens the full force of his grin, “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Mom says. Is she fucking blushing?
