He spreads his fingers, and nothing but pure mischief is swirling in the corners of his eyes. “Not even close.” When he winks at me, any trace of annoyance escapes me, because he’s just so fuckin’ precious. I still don’t know why Pete shoved me, but I ain’t dead, so it don’t really matter.
I snort a laugh. “Alright. Go on. Have your moment.”
He smiles even wider, then kisses me on the lips. “You are so getting your ass eaten later.” Another kiss, and he whips his head toward Pete again. “I want you to know something, Pete Burns—”
“Who the fuck is Pete Burns?”
“You, you bastard.”
“My name is Pete Boyd.”
“You could be called Pete Go-fuck-yourself, twice removed, and I still wouldn’t give a shit. You just killed my boyfriend, asshole.”
“Boyfriend?” Momma says as she enters the room. “What about a boyfriend?”
Ezra’s eyes lock on mine, and he mouths, “It’s okay.”
He’s giving me an out I never asked for. Am I scared of telling my truth? Yeah, but I ain’t a coward. I ain’t going to deny what either of them mean to me, because denying them means denying myself, and I’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.
I take Little Dick’s hand and squeeze it real tight. “Ezra and me—we’re together.” I look down at Ez. “Baby, this is my momma, Ladonna.”
Momma nods. “I can see that. We’re all together. But what’s this about boyfriends?” She smiles at Ezra, crinkling her nose in a friendly manner, giving him a quick wave.
“No, I just mean, we’re …” I try to think of a way to say it that I know she’ll understand.
Momma looks at Ez, then back at me. Her lips part, but she doesn’t say anything, just stands there looking like a video put on pause. Does she know? How could she? I didn’t. Nobody else in Dunsberry could.
“You’re gay, and that’s okay,” Jaden tells my brother. “Come out, come out, Daddy.”
“We’re not doing that,” I warn. “Not with Pete.”
“Doing what?” he asks, smirking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “I haven’t the foggiest what you’re talking about.”
“He’s my brother, Jay,” I warn.
Jaden shrugs. “You’re already my uncle. This will just make it official.”
“Wouldn’t that make him your brother-in-law?” Ez asks.
Jaden just rolls his eyes. “Whatevs. Point being, we’re already family.”
“Point being,” I interject. “My brother is straight.”
“Is he?” Jaden asks.
Pete is still staring at Jaden, dazed. “The things you did to that man’s backside. Maybelle ain’t even seen my asshole, and you were tongue-deep in his. Does it taste gross when you do it?”
“Not if they prep,” both Ez and Jay say, their eyes locking.
“This doesn’t make us friends,” Jay says to Ez, but I can tell he don’t mean it all that much. I don’t know why they have to hate each other so much. It ain’t like either of them have done anything heinous to the other. I think Ez is still jealous of Jay’s bond with Bubba. They’re going to have to get over it, if we ever hope to take this thing any further. Jaden is Bubba’s son. He’s not going anywhere, and he’s a pretty awesome guy, minus the unrequested sex tape screening.
“Pete?”
Pete looks up at me, eyes still hazy, but I think the fog is lifting. “Yeah?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, because I love getting to see you, but why are you guys here?”
Pete’s still got a faraway look in his eyes, but my voice seems to pull him out of his haze. “Momma’s been having these really weird dreams.”
