"Thanks."
"Just don't make me regret being supportive. If you hurt her?—"
"I won't."
"Good. Because I like you, you’re basically my brother now. But I like Maya more. And if you fuck this up, I'm on her side."
I smile despite the anxiety churning in my gut. "Fair enough."
We finish lunch and head home. The whole drive, Chase's words echo in my head like a mantra I can't shake.
Tell her. Before she figures it out. Before this blows up.
He's right, we can't keep this secret much longer. Every day we wait is another day we risk Emma finding out the wrong way, another day we lie to someone we both love, another day we build this house of cards higher and higher until the inevitable collapse.
Back at the house, Emma's in the kitchen with Maya and Ethan. They're baking cookies, flour everywhere. Ethan’s covered in chocolate and looking proud of himself. Maya's laughing, helping Ethan press cookie cutters into dough while Emma attempts to help.
Maya catches my eye across the kitchen. Something in my expression must give away my mood because concern flickers across her face.
"You okay?" she mouths.
I nod, forcing a smile that feels hollow.
But I'm not okay. Because Chase figured it out, and if Chase figured it out, Emma's probably not far behind. Maybe shealready suspects and is just waiting for confirmation, waiting for us to slip up badly enough that she can't ignore it anymore.
We need to tell her. I just don't know how.
Later that night, after Emma and Chase go to bed and the house settles into that particular quiet of everyone sleeping, Maya comes to the basement. She's wearing one of my t-shirts, hair piled on top of her head, looking worried in a way that makes my chest ache.
"What happened?" she asks, closing the door behind her.
"Chase knows."
Her eyes widen. "What?"
"He figured it out, called me out on it at lunch."
"Oh god. What did he say?"
"That he's supportive. But we need to tell Emma before she figures it out herself."
Maya sits on the edge of my bed, her shoulders slumping. "He's right."
"I know."
"So we tell her," Maya says, her voice soft but firm. "But… when?"
I take a breath. "I mentioned to Chase about maybe after the playoffs."
Maya blinks at me. "Jackson…"
"I know," I cut in quickly. "It’s ages away. Even Chase said that’s too far. But it’s all I have right now. I want to tell her, and I know you do too."
"I do," she admits, her fingers fidgeting with my pillow.
"But… are you ready to tell her now? To go upstairs, right this second, and say it?" I ask, my voice low, careful.
Maya shakes her head. "No…"
