Page 83 of Stick By Me
I had a feeling Mom thought we were going to have something to celebrate. I twined my fingers together and dipped my head.
Dad poured two bourbons, neat, for us, then strolled over and handed me one. “There you go.” He sat in the loveseat next to the couch. “What have you come to tell us?”
After pouring herself a white wine, Mom dropped in beside me, her grin widening, and set her hand on my knee. “Yes, Leo, what’s the big news?”
“I’m uh…” I bit the inside of my cheek, darting my gaze from Mom to Dad and back again. Fuck, I couldn’t do it. “I’m not going to be here for Christmas.” I’d start there.
The front door clicked open and shut.
“Hey, hope I’m not too late for the coming out.” Axel waltzed into the room, a broad smirk stretching his lips. Hopping on his toes, he looked us all over.
“The what, honey?” Mom sipped her wine, then cocked her head. “I didn’t know you were coming over, too.” She sprang up from the couch. “Did you want a bourbon? Leo and you father are having some.”
“Sure.” Axel eyed me.
With heat swarming my chest, I shot up and strode to Axel. He was not supposed to be here. How the fuck did he get away from Remy? Under my breath and close to his ear, I said, “What the hell are you doing here?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I told you I’d support you. I’m not missing this for anything.” He furrowed his brows. “What?”
Mom handed Axel a bourdon. “Everything okay, boys?” She studied us both.
I rolled my eyes. Fucking Axel. I should have known. “Yeah, everything’s okay.” Staring him down, I walked back to thecouch and took my seat, then drank a long sip of my bourbon, letting it sting down my throat. Hopefully, things would go smoothly.
Dad sat forward on the loveseat. “Why won’t you be here for Christmas?”
Stepping toward us, Axel drank his bourbon, then sat across from us on the stone hearth next to the television, still paused on the game.
I breathed in deeply. “I met someone, and they need me.Heneeds me.” Okay, so I was trying to break them in slowly.
“Oh dear, what happened?” Mom grabbed my hand.
“His father had a heart attack and I’m going back to Minnesota with him. Things are…not great between them.” I glanced at Axel, the smirk teasing his lips again. He was waiting for everyone to be happy for me.
Covering her mouth, Mom said, “Oh, you’re talking about that nice boy, Archer. The hockey player? I’m so sorry.” She patted my thigh. “You’re a good friend to go all the way up there to be with him through this at such short notice.”
“Doesn’t he have any other family or friends back there? Why do you have to miss the holidays with us?” Dad crossed his arms over his chest.
“Ed, what sort of a thing is that to say? You know what a loyal friend Leo is.” She tsked. “Leo was always there for Remy.”
I peeked at Axel, shaking his leg, and grinning like he could barely keep his mouth shut.
Twisting my short bourbon glass on the coffee table, I said, “He’s more than a friend.” I cut my gaze to meet with Dad’s.
Dad’s eyes widened and he gripped his glass so tightly, his knuckles turned white. In a low voice, he said, “What are you trying to say, Leo?”
Mom stared at me, then glanced at Axel and came back again. “You’re um, you’re not queer, are you? No, you can’t be. Notyou.”
“I’m bisexual, Mom. I’m with Archer. We’re boyfriends.” I watched Axel, my heart ripping in two. If only he’d stayed at home. I could have made up a great story to tell him and saved him from the truth. Fuck.
Axel’s smile faded and he hung his head a moment, rubbing his eyes. “Fuck me.” Standing up, he straightened his shoulders. “Why not him, Mom?” He held his hand out to me. “There’s nothing wrong with it, right? Isn’t that what you told me?”
Her gaze darted all over the room and she gaped. “Well, yes, but, but it was you. You were always gay.” She set her wine glass on the table and strode to him, grabbing his arm. “Axel, dear, we always knew you were different.”
“Different?” He glared at her.
“Axel, you sit down right this instant.” Dad rose up, puffing out his chest and stabbing at the ground. “You know damn well what she means. This is about your brother, not you.” He scowled, then walked around the coffee table to stare out the window into the dark back yard. “I didn’t see this coming from Leo. I thought…I thought we’d have at least one normal wedding in this house.”
“Normal? Are you fucking kidding me?” Axel stomped to Dad. “Now I’m notnormal?”
