“Moam,” Eva says, setting her wineglass down and standing. She walks to her husband, flings her arms around his neck, and kisses him. It’s no chaste peck on the lips either. They are all lips, tongues, and teeth, and there is no denying the passion they share.
A tight pain spreads across my chest as I look away, not wanting to intrude on their private moment.
“What are you doing here?” Kade asks a few minutes later, adjusting himself in his pants.
Fucking gross.
I do not want to see that shit.
Eva removes the laptop bag from Kade’s shoulder, helping him slide his coat off as he frowns at me. “I thought you had to study.”
“Last-minute change of plans,” I lie, leveling him with a challenging look, daring him to push me on this.
“Kent has a date.” Eva pipes up, and I fix her with a warning look. “I don’t keep things from my husband,” she supplies. “Unless you tell me something in complete confidence. I didn’t think it was a secret.”
I eyeball my brother. “I don’t want the others to know. It’s only a date. It probably won’t go any further.” I know my family. They will gush like crazy if they find out I’m dating, and I could do without the familial pressure. It’s not like the odds aren’t already stacked against me and Presley.
“She must be really good in bed if you want to take her out,” Kade says, and Eva thumps him on the arm.
“I haven’t even kissed her,” I hiss, slamming my beer down on the table before standing. I am fucking sick of the judgment from my family.
“Wow.” Kade smiles, and it seems sincere. “You really do like her.” He clamps his hand on my shoulder. “Good for you, bro. I hope it works out.”
I bob my head, clawing a hand through my hair. “Thanks for the advice,Evelina.” I hug my sister-in-law. “I’ll check that place out.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Kade says, and I count to ten in my head.
“If you’re planning on lecturing me, save your breath,” I say when I step outside the front door.
“How long are you going to keep this up, Kent?” Kade leans against the side of my SUV, scrubbing a hand along his jaw. Bruising shadows linger in the space underneath his eyes, and he looks tired.
“Just butt out, Kade. I’m sick of everyone getting on my case about it.”
“You can’t do this forever. He’s your brother, Kent. Your triplet, and it’s killing him that you won’t talk to him. Won’t accept him. So what if he’s gay? It doesn’t change who he is to us. And Austen is a great guy. I think you would really like him if you took the time to get to know him.”
“It’s not going to happen, man.” I kick at the gravel underfoot.
“You can’t avoid them forever. And if you’re planning to skip out on their wedding, think again.” He straightens up. “Man up, Kent. The next time Keats texts you,reply. Go talk to him.”
“It’s not that simple,” I say through gritted teeth.
“It really fucking is. You just talk.”
“You don’t understand. I—” I cut myself off because there’s nothing else I can say. I can’t do this now—or probably ever. I certainly can’t bring this up with Keats a few months before his wedding.
“You’re right, I don’t. Enlighten me.”
I stare at my brother’s troubled expression. “I can’t.”
Disappointment crosses his features as he shakes his head. “Why won’t you tell any of us what’s wrong? This is just like your teenage years all over again. You’ve shut down and shut us out, and you might have gotten away with that crap when you were a kid, but you’re a fucking adult now, Kent, and it’s time to start acting like one.”
“Fuck you, Kade.” I push at his shoulders. “You’re not my father, and you don’t know shit about me.”
“I know if you don’t fix things with Keats before the wedding you’re going to regret it.”
CHAPTER NINE
Presley
