“Yeah, I mean, Taryn and I both know…”
“Same,” Colton chimes in.
Fuckin’ A! What is with these kids and tattling?!
“Seriously?!” Evan hisses. “I thought we didn’t keep secrets from one another!”
“Watch your tone, son,” Dad pipes up, glowering at Evan. “It wasn’t his place to say anything. Perhaps no one wanted to say anything to you sooner, because they were worried that you’d react just like this. Did ya ever think of that? Christ, thetemperon you, boy. You and Gannett go outside and hash out your business like grown men. Don’t make a mess in the goddamn parkin’ lot, neither. Girls, come hang out with Gramps for a minute while your dad and uncle go have a chat.”
Woosah… I can do this.I’ve picked up some sparring skills at the gym, and Gordy’s been my teacher, so we know he’s good. Brooks sure as hell doesn’t look like he can hold Ev back, so I hope that blowie Gordy gave me has gotten me loose enough to tussle. I was hoping it wouldn’t have to come to this, but I will bust my brother’s snout if I have to in the name of self-defense.
When Gordy and I stand, Morgan grabs Tally from Brooks, likely so he can tag along as well. Good, I could use a referee here. Tati tugs on the hem of Evan’s shirt on his way by. He scooches down to her level.
“Uncle Evan? Can you please not be mad at Daddy and Mr. Gordy? I think they love each other like Steve and Mumma love each other,” she pleads with him.
“Daddy an’ Mr. Gordy just don’t kiss all da time like Mumma and Steve do,” Terra adds, “but dat doesn’t mean dey don’t love each udder. Mr. Gordy coaches me an’ my friends t-ball, an’ he picks us up from school sometimes so we don’t gotta go to daycare doze days.”
Evan shoots both Gordy and I a look. “Is that so?” he asks my girls.
Tati nods enthusiastically. “AndMr. Gordy helped me add glitter to my tutu for ballet when Mumma wouldn’t let me. Look at my nails, Uncle Evan!” she chirps, uncharacteristically talkative all of a sudden. She holds out her hands so he can inspect the polish job. “Mr. Gordy painted them pink!”
“They’re very pretty,” Evan grumbles.
Brooks nudges his ribs. “They’reexceptional, love. I think Gordy did a very good job.”
“Mhm, yeah,” Tati agrees thoughtfully. “So, um, please don’t be mad at Mr. Gordy. I don’t want him and Daddy to break up.”
Well, I guess I can eat my previous words. God bless these kids and their tattling ways. The ice daggers in Evan’s eyes start to defrost a bit as he nods at my sweet princess before stalking out of the pub, through the back. The three of us—Gordy, Brooks, and I—follow.
The air is thick with more than just humidity as we get outside. You could cut the tension with a dull enough knife out here, it’sthatthick. Evan’s fingers curl around the hair of his close cropped beard as he paces circles in the employee parking lot. At least he’s not lunging for my carotids, I guess.
“Someone start talking,” he growls, his eyes flitting between me and Gordy.
“Where do you want me to start?” I sigh. “It was a frigid December day when—”
“Do youalwayshave to deflect with humor, Gan?” Evan cuts me off, rolling his eyes. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ! You know what I mean. Since when are you and he hooking up?!” He gestures at Gordy while aiming his ire at me.
I shrug. “I dunno, like January? February? Whatever. Listen, it’s not like Iplannedto discover that I’m bisexual and to start hooking up with Gordy to piss you off, Evan. It just kinda flowed that way. I fell for him platonically before anything started happening between us!”
Evan’s glare hones in on Gordy. “And you what, had some sort of sexual awakening too?” he huffs. “You both just woke up one day and decided to give being gay a try?”
“I’ve known I was bisexual for as long as I can remember,” Gordy admits. “Since before you and I even met at summer camp.”
My brother scoffs aggressively. “I find that hard to believe, after all that shit you spewed at me in high school! Youseriouslycame after me like that? You said some really horrible, bigoted shit!”
Gordy ducks his head, sucking in a sharp breath. I step closer to him, my palm instinctually going to his back to rub soothing circles. “Everything I said to you, that was all just me repeating what Marlin said to me when he found out my truth. I know now that it was me crying out for help, the only way I knew how. I was trying to tell someone without really telling them. I—I…fuck…” Gordy chokes up, struggling to find his next words.
Brooks’ eyes suddenly widen. He put the pieces together.He knows. “Gordy, why don’t you just sit? Breathe. You don’t have to—”
Gordy shakes his head. “I can do this. I didn’t get to tell you before, back at the barbeque a few years back, but I’ve—therapy. I’ve beenback in therapy. You d-deserve to know the whole of it. I’m a s-survivor of s-sexual a-abuse. Marlin th-thought he could fuckin’ change me…” His words come out strained and choppy, but he’s doing it.
God, I’m so fucking impressed with his strength.
He continues, “You’re b-brother h-helped me overcome my fear of intimacy. I’m n-not just f-fooling around with him or u-using him. I l-love him, Evan.”
Evan’s eyes dart over to me. Call me crazy, but it looks like those hereditary Water’s blues are damp too. His throat bobs as he swallows hard.
“I love him too,” I tell my brother.
