“What about you, Zo?” Pa turns to him. “When are you planning to get married?”
“I’m not getting married,” Zo states.
“This year, right?” Ma asks.
“Ever,” Zo says flatly.
Everyone freezes.
“And why is that?” Aunt asks, frowning deeply.
“He’s asexual,” Leo says, dead serious.
Ma, Mom, and Aunt’s jaws nearly hit the floor. Dad, Uncle, and Pa study Leo and Zoan with deep frowns, while Avi and I fight not to laugh.
“H—how? Why?” Aunt stammers.
“Who knows?” Leo shrugs.
“Can’t we do anything about it?” Aunt asks Mom, genuinely concerned.
Mom turns to Zo. “Have you ever tried to get close to a woman?”
Leo answers again. “Back in New York, a woman sat on his lap and he threw her off. Pretty sure she broke a rib.”
Mom frowns. “What do you feel when a woman gets close to you?”
This time, Zo answers. “Irritation.”
Mom turns to Aunt. “It must be because of that bitch.”
She looks back at Zo. “What about men?”
“I’m not gay.”
Mom sighs. Aunt’s worry is plain on her face. I don’t know which is less comforting—believing her adopted son is asexual, or knowing he’s in love with her daughter.
Everyone leaves the dining room, a heavy mood trailing behind them. Once the elders are gone, Avi and I dissolve into laughter, hands clamped over our mouths. Zo and Leo saunter over.
I whisper, “Did you two plan this?”
They shake their heads.
“Then how’d you lie so smoothly?”
Leo leans against the table, all casual ease.
“He didn’t have a reason, so I gave them one.”
“How do you know he didn’t have a reason?” I ask.
Avi waves a hand, smirking. “Don’t you know? They’re like two bodies, one soul. They don’t need words to communicate.”
“Ah, right. My bad.” I chuckle.
“Stupid women and their stupid jokes,” Leo drawls.
“Why don’t you worry about the woman you’re marrying? She’s planned a hundred and one ways to torment you,” I say.
