“Holy shit!”
The two men jumped apart like they’d been zapped by a Taser. Tanner fell back against the garage door with a clang as Lance pretended to admire the bike’s paint job.
“Holy-fucking-shit!” Cameron exclaimed with eyes as round as saucers.
Tanner stared at his sister, mouth dry, heart pumping. He wasn’t sure how to get himself out of this. Or even if he wanted to. After all, what did it matter what his sister thought? Sure, yeah, he’d gone from straight to gay practically overnight—which had to count as some sort of record—but it wasn’t that big of a deal these days.
“So, you two are together now?”
“We’re—” Tanner hesitated, looking between Lance and his sister.
“Yes,” Lance replied, with an utter finality that anchored Tanner’s feet to the floor.
Cameron looked shocked and mystified at the same time.
“I mean—” she scoffed. “That’s fucking amazing!” Then she looked at Lance in complete bewilderment. “Is he really the best you can do?”
Tanner grabbed the nearest object, a roll of duct tape, and hurled it at her. She jumped aside right before it could hit her.
“Oh, come on! You might be gay now, but I’m still your sister. I have a right to mess with you anytime I feel like it! But seriously, how long has this been going on?”
“A few days,” Lance said, so calmly that Tanner was stunned. How in the hell was he not freaked out saying that? Had they not agreed earlier that day that neither one of them was ready to come out? Then again, hadn’t Tanner told Lance’sex that they’d been on a date? How was this situation any different?
“Shit! That new?” She gave a low whistle, as though impressed. “I don’t know what to say—I’m glad—happy for you two. But—” Then she shocked the hell out of Tanner by running up to him and wrapping him up in a bear hug.
“You totally scored. He’s fucking hot!” she whispered before stepping back.
“Cameron, please don’t say anything to anybody. We’re not ready to be out yet,” Tanner cautioned her.
“Really? Because you were just now making out in Mom’s garage—” She smirked and put her hands on her hips.
“We didn’t think anyone would barge in on us! No one ever comes out here anymore. Whatareyou doing out here, anyway?”
Cameron pointed to the fridge near the door. “Mom sent me to gethispie,” she said, pointing at Lance.
Tanner threw his hands up in the air. “See!” Tanner rolled his eyes. “I fucking told you it was a bad idea to bring the fucking pie!” he exclaimed, playing it up.
“Okay, so maybe I’m wrong sometimes!” Lance declared with a startlingly bright smile.
“Well, this has been all kinds of entertaining, but I should probably get the pie to Mom before she comes looking for it herself,” Cameron said with a wink. “I can probably cover for you guys so you can have another three minutes of horny-making-out before she gets suspicious and tracks your asses down.”
This time, when Tanner chucked a wad of old newspaper at her, it hit her square in the forehead.
“Touchdown!” Lance said, laughing as they watched Cameron dash back into the house, apple pie in hand.
She’d kidded them about having three minutes to make out, but the urge to use those three minutes for some sexy times was hard to resist as he turned to look at Lance.
“Well—cat’s out of the bag now,” Lance said, looking slightly uncomfortable and lacking his usual air of confidence.
“I’m really sorry,” Tanner said, shaking his head. And hedidfeel sorry. He also felt fucking elated. How many times had his poor sister walked in on him crying his eyes out, or sobbing while huddled in the fetal position, trying to remember his fucking name, because of all the terrible shit that happened to him in the military. This? This was something entirely different. He was so damned proud of his relationship with Lance. Being with Lance was a good thing. Thebestthing, and having his sister know the true nature of their relationship made him want to shout it from the rooftops.
“I’m not,” Lance said, shrugging.
Tanner frowned in confusion. Lance sighed and his chin dropped to his chest like he was reluctant to say more than that but couldn’t see any way out of it.
“No bullshit, right?” he asked tentatively, looking up at Tanner.
“No bullshit,” Tanner agreed, gaze locked with Lance’s.
