I look over to Cage and he gives Sera a look, she stares back.
“Dude get a room,” I chide, and everyone laughs, including Cage’s assistant, Marta. Well, Cage’s lip twitches so I consider that a laugh.
“Is there any specific way you wanted to, for lack of a better term, ‘come out’?” Cage questions.
“We were thinking of just going out in public more, maybe dinner and lunch. Shopping,” Linc replies.
“Oooh, shopping,” Meggie says with a bounce. “Can I come?”
I laugh and Linc smirks.
“Does that mean Styxzilla will be coming as well?” I ask.
“Styxzilla!” Meggie laughs. “That is perfect for him!”
“I didn’t realize I said that out loud,” I admit. “It’s just, he’s so…” I move my hand, “just so…”
“That he is,” Meggie agrees.
“I like it,” Trace says. “Styxzilla. Yeah, I like that. Nice.”
I squeeze Linc’s hand. I need to know.
“Now that it’s been said,” I begin, “does anyone have anything they need to say? If you aren’t on board with this, we get it. Not everyone’s as tolerant as others.”
“Now you’re pissing me off,” Trace says.
Linc sits up straighter, ready to defend me.
“You really think anyone here is going to think or feel differently about you because you’re gay? Because you love him, and he loves you?” Lucy asks. “Ethan, we love you for you, and that includes everything about you. This is part of who you are. We wouldn’t be true family if we didn’t embrace this with you.”
I nod, my nose getting tingly, but I suck it up.
“Thanks.”
“Now, others. The public. The media,” Marta says shaking her head when Cage looks at her. “We’re going to have to just see what happens, and if it needs spin, then we find one. Just remember, it’s always bad at first and then it gets worse before it gets better.”
Cage leans forward, resting his hands on the table. “And it will get better. We’ll make sure of it.”
Linc nods and I do too.
“I’m not sure why I was so anxious about telling you,” I confess.
“Fear of the unknown,” Kennedy tells him. “By the way, I’ve always known. Just wanted to put that out there. If you fuckers have a problem with it, take it up with The K.O. Kid here.”
“Yeah, pretty sure if anyone had a problem with that, no one would say a fucking word,” Jace teases. “He’s one big motherfucker.”
“And mean, when he needs to be,” Xan tells them.
“Remember when he broke Xander’s nose?” Jesse taunts.
“Fuck off,” Xan says, reaching up to touch his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I still have a lump there.”
“Your dad’s one hell of a doctor, but he’s not a magician,” Linc tells him. “And you had it coming.”
Xan looks at Linc. “I damn sure did. Just remember, Jesse challenged you that day.”
Jesse laughs, and Linc looks at Jesse.
