Zanejerked to a sitting position and turned to face her. “Why would you think that?Why would Beau want to be with my brother? He’s not –”
“ZaneWalker,” V said, cutting him off. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed thetension between them. It’s been going on for… for a long time.”
Zanerelaxed a little.
Hedropped his head, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared down at hishands. Yes, he had noticed the tension between them. Yes, he had thought thatsomething might be going on between the two of them. And yes, he had pretendednot to notice.
“Doesit bother you that Beau is gay?”
Zanefelt like she’d slapped him upside the head. “Why in the fuck would that matterto me?”
“Becausehe’s your best friend.”
“Itdoesn’t matter to me what someone’s sexual preference is, V. I’ve…”
Hepaused, realization dawning. God, he was so fucking dense sometimes. Here hehad been wondering why Beau wouldn’t continue with their threesomes ever sincethatnight. And it had taken him all of this time to finally realize that Beauwasn’t with them because he was gay? Not because he was confused. Or because ofwhat happened. Well, maybe a little because of what happened.
Lookingover at V, he found her smiling sadly back at him. “Why hasn’t he just come outand told me?”
Zanefelt the rift that continued to develop between him and Beau. Originally, hethought that they were growing apart because of V. Then he figured it had to dowith the fact that Zane had fucked him. It wasn’t something he thought aboutoften, but he knew the events of that night had changed Beau. Or maybe Beauhadn’t changed at all, and Zane was just noticing for the first time.
Hefrowned. Some friend he’d been.
Vmoved closer, resting her hand on his arm. “I think Beau was confused, andprobably hung up on you for a long time. So much so that he denied himself anykind of happiness and refused to believe that he wanted anything different thanyou did.”
“Buthe slept with women.”
“Whenhe was with you,” she told him.
“Howcan he just give that up? How is it he hasn’t realized this before now?”
“He’squestioned himself, Zane. Beau has enjoyed sex with women. But only when youwere there. See the connection?”
Vsounded as though she knew firsthand what Beau was feeling, which raisedanother question. “How do you know all of this?” Zane felt like a total shit.His best friend finally figures out who he is, and Zane had spent the last yearpretending that nothing had changed wheneverythinghad changed.
“BecauseI asked him. After the night you were with him, I think something clicked forBeau. You gave him something he’d been curious about, probably helped himconfirm what he had suspected all along. But you are his friend, not his lover.He accepted that.”
“Andnow he’s going to be with my brother?”
“Whatif he is? Would that be such a horrible thing? Ethan’s a good guy.”
“Soyousay,” Zane argued.
Truthfully,he knew Ethan wasn’t a bad guy. Unsociable, yes. A player, probably. But he hada good heart beneath all that attitude. “What am I supposed to say to him?”Zane didn’t bother to clarify whichhimhe was referring to.
“You’regoing to support him. Both of them. It’s not your place to decide what is rightor wrong. If they manage to find happiness with each other, then we’re going tobe right there beside them, loving them the same as we do now.”
Zanestared at his hands for a few minutes, his mind tossing around the informationhe’d just learned. Finally, when he found his voice, he said, “Well, hopefullyE can forgive me for sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Vsqueezed his arm and chuckled. “Honey, he’s forgiven you millions of othertimes. I’m sure this one won’t be any different.”
Chapter Thirteen
??
Ethantried to control his temper, but it wasn’t looking good for him. All of theanger and stress that had dissipated with Beau’s kiss had returned tenfold,working its way back into Ethan’s bones, making him hurt all over again.
Hewas so pissed at Zane for making accusations he had no business making that nowhe could hardly see past the red haze. It was a damn good thing that hisnosy-ass brother had decided to leave when he did. When his brothers made aneffort to interfere in his life, – which they did often for whatever reason –Ethan felt as though he’d been stretched in multiple directions, like a rubberband. This time was no different, only he was seconds away from snapping.
