“Apparently Colt is, but I just found out about it yesterday. Please don’t go spreading this around guys,please. I haven’t even had a chance to talk to him about it yet.”
“Listen, I’ve known for a bit, and I didn’t say a goddamn thing,” Dad interjects. “Gordy obviously knows, he saw the proof of it, but I don’t think he’s said anything either…”
“But you just, what, woke up and decided you were gay?” Gannett asks me.
“No…” I hedge.
Gannett dons a shit-eating grin. “You’re getting some booty, aren’t you, you fuckin’ dog.” He curls his lip back and makes a snapping noise. “I totally fuckin’ called it!”
“No,” I protest, “oh my fuck, just stop—okay? I’m seeing someone, alright? It’s very new. Like, so new and I kind of left things up in theair, and now I don’t even have my phone to smooth it over with him. But it’s not just a hookup, alright?”
Dad groans from the bed. “Didn’t need any ofthosedetails…”
Gannett glares at Dad over my shoulder. “Shut up, old man. Get with the times. Free love and all that.” Then he turns his attention back to me. “When do we meet the boyfriend? Is he the one you said was checking you out? Which one of you is the chick?”
“No, it’s not that guy, and you won’t meet him at all, if you all are going to act all—I don’t know—fucking ignorant and shit. Why don’t you let me date the guy for a little bit?”
Gannett thwacks my chest, acting affronted. “When have I ever acted all ignorant and shit?”
“Some of the stuff you say, it’s not always, uh, politically correct. For example, asking which one of us isthe chick…”
“Fuckin’ call my ass out on it, then! I’m not doing it to be a dink! I promise! You know me, bro…”
“I haven’t always been the best role model either,” Dad admits, much to my surprise. “Maybe when you get ya shit figured out with ya man, bring him by the place sometime. Maybe if I can put a face to’em, I won’t be so outta my element.”
“You seriously want me to ask him to come here?”
“As serious as a heart attack,” he snickers.
I roll my eyes. “Not like you’ve taken this one too seriously…”
“Oh calm down, Evan. Yes, bring him by sometime. I’m sure ya mother will wanna meet him too.”
“Ayep, lemme know when, so I can make sure to be there,” Gannett remarks. “I will be on my best behavior.”
Uh-huh, I seriously doubt that.
“You—you all are… okay?... with this?”
“Were you expecting to be tarred and feathered?” Gannett snorts.
“Sort of, yeah…”
“Kid,” Dad says, sounding serious this time. “I’ve looked death in the face twice now and laughed at it. I’ve got bigger fish in the pan ta fry than cutting my son outta my will over who he hangs his hat with at night. I just wanna scope him out, make sure he’s good to ya, that’s all.”
I grin at that, because Dad sounds so genuine for once. “He’s so good,” I reply. “He’s patient. He’s understanding. He gets me.”
“You heart-eyed motherfucker,” Gannett teases. “Do you need to use my cell so you can text him and let him know you’re on your way back?”
I shake my head. “I don’t even know his number.”
Gannett snorts. “Rookie. Jesus Christ, I’m gonna have to teach you everything, aren’t I? That’s like, rule number one. How the hell else do you send dick pics?”
I respond with a punch to his bicep, which—with us—quickly turns into an episode of rough-housing, even though we’re two grown men. I shove him down into the chair I previously occupied, trying to get him into a headlock.
“Boys!” Dad goes all authoritative, ringing his call bell. “Jee-zus H, get me outta this place already…”
“Go on,” Gannett flaps his hand towards the door, still cackling. “I can bring the old man home. Sorry about the shit I said earlier, too. I’ll do better.”
