“This one’s Theo’s,” I replied. I glanced at Theo, sitting next to me, and he looked kind of nervous. I was usually the one fiddling with my hands or biting my nails, but Theo was over there with sweat along his brow.
Everyone had gotten me something. Mostly gift cards, which were incredible, but Maria and Anthony bought me a gorgeous watch.
Theo must have double-wrapped his gift or something, because I was having way too much trouble, or maybe my hands were sticky from the cake? My cheeks flushed as everyone sat there waiting for me to open it. I looked up, nervous that folks might be getting impatient with me, and was met with a room full of people smiling at me.
Cody and Rafael sat across from me, the twins flanking them. Maria and Anthony sat on folding chairs off to the side because they wanted the “kids” to all sit together, and Theo sat next to me.
It struck me how lucky I was at that moment. I dreaded birthdays because, once Grandma and Pap were gone, it was hit or miss if Mom would even remember.
Gifts? Forget it.
Instead of excitement, I’d wake up with an ache in my stomach, knowing the day would let me down.
But that wasn’t happening for my twentieth birthday, and that was thanks to Theo and his wonderful family, who’d welcomed me in.
I stopped unwrapping the present because I needed to say something. “Before I open this, I need to tell you all how wonderful this day has been for me. It’s truly the best birthday I’ve ever had, and I’m not just saying that.” I imagine people could tell from the gravity in my voice that I was being very serious when I said that, and a few of them looked at me with sympathy. It wasn’t the intention, but I had to acknowledge how special the day was. “I started today feeling really down, and you all made it better. So much better. My life has become infinitely more wonderful since you welcomed me into your home. I just want to say thank you.”
I could see Maria and the twins looking like they were about to cry, so I rushed to change the mood. “Okay! Now that the sappy speech is out of the way, let’s see what Big Boy over here got me.”
There were light chuckles and guesses on what it might be as I finally ripped off the paper.
I didn’t know what it was. It looked like a gold-platedsquare, but when I picked it up, I realized it opened up. It was two picture frames joined by tiny hinges that opened almost like a locket. A picture of Theo and me during our first season with the Vipers was on the left, and a picture of us the day his folks dropped us off at Callahan, displaying the compass necklaces they’d given to us, was on the right.
It was the sweetest, most wonderful gift I’d ever received. “Oh, Theo…”
I tried to school my features, plastering on as much machismo as possible. I turned to Theo and nearly fell apart when I met his gaze. “Do you like it?” he asked.
The entire room washed away when he asked that. For a brief moment, nobody in the world existed except for him and me. My heart thundered in my chest as he looked at me with so much love. “It’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” I replied.
His smile was brighter than the sun. In my imagination, we slowly inched closer until we were able to lock lips and kiss each other sweetly.
But when I heard gasps from the people around us, I realized we had actually kissed.
Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck.
I backed away from Theo, my hands rising to cover my mouth, staring at him with wide eyes. I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I searched his eyes for how to react, trying to convey with mine how sorry I was that it happened, how I didn’t mean to do it.
I didn’t even know my hands were trembling until Theo pulled them away from my mouth and pulled me in foranother kiss.
“Oh. My. God.” It was one of the twins. Couldn’t tell you which because I was locking lips with Theo, but it was one ofthem.
The kiss ended, and we parted. Theo had a little smirk on his face. “Couldn’t help it,” he said with a shrug.
My brain was mashed potatoes.What just happened? What is going on?I was still in shock as I turned to look at everyone seated around us who were, not surprisingly, also in shock.
Theo wrapped his arm around me and announced, “Asher’s my boyfriend.”We’re doing this? Right now?“I can’t pretend anymore. I’m in love with him. We’re together.”
Silence. Not a word spoken for what felt like an eternity.
“Theo. You’re gay?” Reggie asked.
“I don’t know, but I love Asher, so… I’m something.” His caress helped to ground me as I waited for the backlash.They’re going to kick us out. Or just me. Hopefully it’s just me. I don’t want him to get kicked out.
“No! You are not this cool, Theo,” Roxy cried out. “Cool people are fluid with their sexuality, and you are not cool. You’re a meathead jock.”
“Hey! Fuck off, Roxy,” Theo replied.
“Language!” Maria yelled. Then she looked at Theo and said, “Theo, if you had told us that you sold a kidney to get a pair of rollerblades with rockets attached that let you fly around the city, I would have been less surprised than I am now.”
