Fox chuckles, a deep, quiet sound that makes my chest warm.
“You know,” I begin, tilting my head slightly to look up at him, “it’s still a little hard to believe we’re together.Sometimes it feels like I’m in a dream I don’t want to wake up from.”
His gaze softens as he looks down at me, blue meeting brown eyes.“It’s not a dream.This is real.”
I sigh, shifting my gaze back to the ceiling.“So, what’s going to happen between us?Now that we’re official… are you going to tell people?”
I feel his hand pause briefly in my hair before continuing its soothing motion.
“My friends already know I’m gay,” I say.“They’re fine with it.Actually, most of them aren’t straight either, except for Leanne.But I’m not going to hide us from them.I just… don’t know if you’re ready for people to know.”
Fox is quiet for a moment.“Do your parents know?”
“Yeah,” I answer, sighing again.“But it’s more complicated than that.”
“Why’s that?”
I stare at the paused game on the TV screen, my thoughts drifting back to a time I’ve worked hard to bury.
“When I was a senior in high school, I got dared to write this guy a love letter,” I begin, my voice quieter now.“Back then, I wasn’t sure about my sexuality.I’d never felt anything for girls the way I felt for this guy.His name was Bryson.I poured my heart into that letter and gave it to him.”
Fox’s hand stills in my hair.
“The next day, he and his jock friends cornered me.They beat me up and called me every slur you can think of.It was bad.My parents found out and… let’s just say they weren’t supportive.They told me it was wrong to be gay, and that I needed to date girls.They buried the truth because they were ashamed of me.They’re homophobic as hell.”
“That’s…” Fox trails off, his voice low.After a moment, he murmurs, “That’s fucked up.And Bryson’s a total dipshit.”
I chuckle quietly, biting my lip.
“You know,” Fox says, his tone firmer now, “I don’t care what people think about us.It’s no one’s business but ours.We don’t have to tell anyone if we don’t want to.You’re going to tell your friends, right?”
I nod.“They’ll ask, and I won’t lie to them.Besides, they’ve been shipping us before we even became a thing.”
Fox laughs, shaking his head.“My friends… well, they’re not as understanding.”
“Yeah?”
“They think gay love is… weird.Fucked up, even.They’re uncomfortable with the idea, and I don’t blame them.”
“Mike’s cool, though,” I point out.“You know he made that dare because he suspected we had a thing, right?He wanted us to talk it out.”
“What?”Fox looks genuinely surprised.
“He told me.I guess he could tell I was gay right off the bat.”
“Shit.”
I chuckle.“What happened between you and Carter?”
Fox’s face darkens.“Lexi and I broke up for good, and to get back at me, she hooked up with Carter.Then he started acting like a bitch, saying I wasn’t man enough for her.God, I can’t stand her.She’s so clingy.”
“Well,” I say with a small smile, “I’m glad we’re together now.”
“Me too,” Fox says, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to my lips.“And whatever this is, it’s ours.No one else’s.I’m not ready to tell anyone yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m not serious about us.”
“I’m okay with that,” I reply softly.“Take your time.”
“Thanks.”
