Icouldn’t be happier for the two of them—even if part of me is sad that I can’t explore whatever feelings I was having about Keoni.
Amhaving.
It’s a strange ache in my chest knowing whatever could have happened, can’t now.
Watching my soon-to-be-stepbrother jump down from the back of the truck with a box as wide as his shoulders, the fabric of his shirt straining across his defined back, has me swallowing down my self-pity.
The draw I have to him only solidified my earlier feelings on my sexuality. That I was into both boys and girls.
I confessed to Alysa a few weeks ago I felt attracted to both, and she quite literally said,“Oh, I already knew that.”As if it were so freaking obvious.
“Something caught your eye, Ayden?” Keoni asks with a deep chuckle.
I suck in a sharp breath that immediately turns into a coughing fit. Doubling over, I practically hack up an invisible ball of shame for being caught staring.
Feet approach and stop just inches from my own. Lifting my chin, I find Keoni, a gentle smile on his face. At least, I think that’s what I’d call it. It’s soft, almost out of place on someone who looks as big and powerful as he does. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it anywhere but now.
At games or practice, his expression is either stoic or edged with that cocky grin that always seems to lace his lips.
“Need some water, righty?”
A loudsmacklands square on my back, sending me stumbling forward with a yelp. Pain shoots through me, and before I can catch myself, I slam straight into Keoni. Our chests press together like we’re hugging—though we definitely aren’t.
He’s at least four or five inches taller, maybe more, and I tip my head back to meet his gaze.
Before I can even process whatever’s happening in our stare-down, Alysa leaps onto my back, forcing me even closer to him.
“Do you need help, Keoni?”
He smells so good…
Before I can make a fool of myself and say something like that inner thought out loud, I take a step back and thrust my sister off. She’s graceful, landing on her feet and doing a twirl.
“I’ve got it. Plus, your dad paid for the movers.”
“Ah, you’ll be soon sayingourdad.”
I’m not sure how I keep the groan from slipping past my lips, but I do.This is great… so great…
Keoni hums. “Yeah, true. That’ll take some getting used to.”
Suddenly, a hand brushes through my hair. When I realize it’s him fixing the mess Alysa made from her attack, I instinctively hold my breath.
“Coming to the game Saturday?” There’s a Varsity only game against a junior college here in Denver. The JV team was offered to go watch, but the cheer team wasn’t.
Now, I guess I could go as a friend… or family…
“I’ve got a big test on Tuesday,” I groan. “I don’t know why I tested into AP math.”
“I’ll help.”
“I’ll help!” Alysa says simultaneously with Keoni, but hers is extremely aggressive. “We should go!”
“Kids! Come on, you’re in the way of the movers!” our dad says from inside the house.
I take a step away from him and smile. “Alright, well, if you two promise to help me study, I’m in.”
“You got it.”
