Jake (12:28 a.m.): Ilike him. I mean, I *like* like him. Like more than just a friend
And he frowned again as he realized how juvenile that sounded. But it was the truth, and now that he’d acknowledged it “out loud,” it felt even more real. And even more scary.
He stared at the phone, waiting for her laughing, teasing “I told you so,” which he completely deserved and would almost welcome right now. But that wasn’t the message that came.
Kris (12:30 a.m.):Don’t tell him yet
Kris (12:30 a.m.):Hang on one sec, Phil is... ugh you should see this
Kris (12:32 a.m.):Sorry, you remember how Phil used to sleepwalk?
Jake (12:32 a.m.):God yeah. Is he right now?
Kris (12:33 a.m.):Yeah. I tried to take a video, but my phone is being weird
Kris (12:34 a.m.):Sorry. So, what I meant to say was - Yay! I mean, of course I was right and already knew and I’ve been telling you this for how many months now? But also, I stand by what I said earlier. You have to wait for him.
Jake took a slow, deep breath and glanced over at Rye. He still slept, peaceful and quiet, with not even a hint of tension in him, his chest rising and falling with a slow, easy rhythm. And Jake felt it again—that fullness in his chest and a warmth that spread into his cheeks.
He glanced back down at Krista’s message, and he closed his eyes and took another long breath before sending her a short response.
Jake (12:36 a.m.):Wait for him, how?
It sounded like a dumb question with an obvious answer. Give Rye time to heal, let Rye figure out his own feelings first. Of course. And there was always the very likely possibility that Rye wouldn’t be attracted to men anyway.
Kris (12:36 a.m.):Lunkhead
Jake (12:37 a.m.):Yeah, I know, I know. But help me out! I’ve had two boyfriends, if you could even call them that. Paul was barely more than a single date (and it was awful), and Steve, well, you know all about Steve.
Jake (12:37 a.m.):This is so different
Jake (12:38 a.m.):I’m not even sure how to describe it. It’s like I’m not even trying. Like I never even had to try. We just became friends and then everything started to build from there. And it feels so good just being around him. It’s like
Jake sent the text before he finished writing it, needing to pause to gather his thoughts. He felt a little silly as he realized what he’d wanted to say—silly but at the same time, also one hundred percent serious, and he hoped his sister wouldn’t tease him for it. He continued his text.
Jake (12:39 a.m.):It’s like something was missing from my life, but I didn’t even know it. And it’s like now that he’s here, everything is brighter and better
Kris (12:39 a.m.):Boy, you did fall hard, didn’t you?
Jake groaned inwardly.
Jake (12:39 a.m.):Yeah. I know. Please help your poor little brother out. The absolute last thing I want to do is hurt him
Kris (12:42 a.m.):I know. Sorry to tease you. <3 And fwiw, I don’t think you’d hurt him, at least not intentionally. What I do think (what I meant by “wait for him”) is that you need to keep doing what you’re doing - being his friend, being there for him, supporting him however he needs it. And then when he’s ready emotionally, *if* he has feelings for you too, you let him set the pace - let him tell you, let him ask you out. You need to continue being his friend first and foremost, because you need to recognize that there’s a possibility (I’m so sorry) that he might not ever be ready for that type of relationship or, of course, that he won’t be into men when he is ready.
He read the long block of text and then read it again one more time. Krista had pretty much repeated what he already knew. Yet he’d needed to hear it from her all the same.
Jake (12:45 a.m.):Stay the course
Kris (12:45 a.m.):Exactly
Kris (12:45 a.m.):Stay the course, let him set the pace, and keep being the amazing human you are
Kris (12:46 a.m.):Have I told you lately how much I love you and how proud of you I am?
She probably had. She told him all the time. And for once, he didn’t quip back.
Jake (12:47 a.m.):Yeah, yeah, I think you have. I love youtoo, sis
