Ruby
When I step into the kitchen the next morning, I expect to see Liam there as usual. Instead, Connor is standing at the stove,flipping a pancake in the cast-iron skillet. He’s wearing what looks like Liam’s black sweatpants and a worn Oak Ridge Fire Department tee. The clothes are obviously too big for him, which isn’t saying a whole lot. Connor is muscular, just not quite as big as his brother.
“Morning,” he says cheerfully. “Pancakes?”
“I’ve never turned down breakfast food before. Not gonna start now.” I pour myself a cup of coffee and add in some of my favorite creamer as I settle myself at the island.
“It is arguably the best meal of the day.” He slides a plate across to me, along with a bottle of maple syrup. “Liam’s in the gym. Could we talk?”
“Mmmm. I see how it is. Ply me with food so I’ll be more agreeable.” I take my first bite of breakfast and stifle a moan the second the flavors hit my tongue.
He lets out a quiet bark of laughter. “I’ll admit that is a perk, but I didn’t plan it that way.”
I gesture for him to continue as I shovel more food into my mouth.
“I’m sorry for everything, Ruby. I was a stupid, selfish kid.”
“It was a long time ago. I appreciate the apology, but I really don’t harbor any ill will toward you. Teenagers do dumb shit.” I spear another bite of the pancake and swirl it in the pool of syrup that’s gathering on the outside of the plate. “Was I hurt? Hell yeah, I was. But I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on our relationship over the years, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that you and I were never going to work out.”
“That’s true, but not for the reasons you might think.” He fidgets with his hands the same way he always does when he’s nervous. It’s nice to see that some things haven’t changed. He takes a deep breath and says, “Ruby, I’m gay.”
“And water is wet,” I deadpan.
His mouth drops open. “You know?”
“Yeah. Well. I suspected.”
“You suspected.”
“Are you just going to repeat whatever I say?”
“No. Sorry. I’m just surprised. That’s not exactly the reaction I anticipated.”
I stab another forkful of pancake and wave it in the air as I speak. “I’ve been in the music industry for years. I’ve played concerts around the world in front of millions of people. I have an entire number with drag queens in my show. You hang out with a bunch of queens long enough, you learn to recognize some of the signs.” I slip the fork between my teeth and chew. “Besides, you just confirmed it.”
He smiles. “What is it they call us? The Ruby Lynn Gays. Honestly, it’s a little too on the nose for my taste.”
I giggle. “Yeah, there’s that, too.”
“I’m a card-carrying member,” he adds. “Have been since the beginning.”
“But what about everything you said at prom?”
“I was a jealous piece of shit. You were doing your own thing… chasing dreams outside of our hometown. I knew you were going to do amazing things, and I was just some fucked up kid who couldn’t even admit that he wasn’t into his girlfriend like that.”
“Wow, thanks for that.”
“You know what I mean. You’re fucking amazing, Ruby. One of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I just wasn’t romantically or sexually attracted to you. Not for lack of trying, obviously.”
Connor was my first, back when we were just two clumsy kids trying to work out the logistics of sex. It wasn’t great, and we didn’t make a habit of it.
“We were awkward as hell,” I say.
Footsteps carry down the staircase, and Liam appears, snagging a piece of bacon off my plate. I smile up at him as he takes a bite. His hair is wet from his shower, and he smells way too fucking good. The pancakes are phenomenal, but I’d much rather have Liam for breakfast.
“If we could maybe not talk about you two having sex, that would be great,” he says around a mouthful.
“Only if the same rule applies to you two,” Connor counters. “Love you both, but I don’t need to know about whatever it is you do upstairs.”
