I nod once. “Don’t go too far.”
“Never.” He strokes my cheek, then walks away, rounding the corner and disappearing out of sight.
My heart kind of aches at the absence of him, and I have to breathe deeply to try and dispel the pain.
“Care to explain what the fuck is going on, Pres?” Jude barks. “Thiscan’tbe what I think it is, right?”
“It is.” I release a puff of air, peeking at him. “Can you stop looking so tense? It’s making this harder than it should be, asshole.”
Jude sucks in a sharp breath. “Well, I’m sorry I’m not overjoyed at the idea of you with Osborn, of all people. I thought you hated each other.”
“I thought so too, but you know, hate is a fine line from love and all that poetic stuff.”
“Love?” Jude says, his eyes on the verge of bulging out. “Did you just saylove?”
“Yeah,love, you know, like how you feel about Vee. Normal fucking feelings. Honestly, stop pissing me off, Jude, or I’ll punch you.” I whip my head to the side toward Kane. “And you! Are you going to add anything to this merry conversation?”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Some time.”
“Since when?”
“Since our game against the Wolves?” I end it with a question, grinning awkwardly.
“Wow. Fuckingmonths?” Jude gawks. “And you haven’t told meanything?”
“Well, I teleported to the future, witnessed your reaction from now, and vehemently decided against it, asshole.”
“You could’ve told me,” Kane says, his voice grounded, and I sigh.
“It’s not that I didn’twantto tell you. It’s that I couldn’t accept it myself until recently, so I couldn’t exactly disclose it. I guess I needed time to come to terms with it first before I talked to you guys about it. And believe me, it took a lot of fighting my demons and my very soul to come to terms with how much I love being with Marcus. He…he quiets my mind, you know. He makes me feel safe and is so patient with me and always gives me everything selflessly, and I need that. He’s part of the reason I want to get better,reallybetter, so that I can be myself and be with him. So maybe don’t be dicks about it. Yes, I’m talking to you, Jude. You’re making this coming-out sesh lackluster as fuck.”
Jude stares at me for one long, furious, helpless second. “I’m not judging your sexuality. You know I’d support you whether you love a man or a woman or anything in between. It’s just the choice of the particular man you went with.Osborn?Really, Pres?”
My throat tightens, but I manage a nod. “Yeah,really.I’d be dead if he wasn’t in my life, and I’m not saying that lightly.”
“You’re choosing him,” Kane says.
“I am,” I say, even though it’s not a question.
“Then we’ll adapt.”
“Adapt?” Jude glares at him. “That’s your genius plan?”
“Yes, wewilladapt, Jude.” Kane squeezes my shoulder. “Knowing Pres and what happened to him, he must’ve gone through it to be able to accept it, and if he says he loves him, that’s not easy for him to admit, isn’t that right?”
Something stupid burns in my eyes, my chest feeling so full and tight. “Do you have any idea how many meltdowns I experienced on the fucking regular?”
Kane smiles. “I can only imagine.”
“You bitches need to hear me yap all about it, because shit was so fucking real. Like what do you mean I play for the same team now? Also, who made Marcus’s dick so appealing?”
“Jesus Christ.” Jude releases a breath. “I totally donotwant to hear about Marcus’s dick.”
“Yes, you will, bestie!” I put him in a headlock. “Will be having popcorn and staying up until four in the morning hearing me out.”
“Oh God,” Jude sounds horrified, but he straightens and ruffles my hair. “I’m glad to have you back, Pres. Really.”
