“Yaoiis my life,” Faith answered, smiling at me. “The thought of you kissing another boy makes me want to read Boy Love stories and go on a never-ending Pinterest dive for all that adorableyaoifan art.”
I started laughing, and so did she. And it felt scary and amazing at the same time. Finally, someone knew. I didn’t have to pretend.
The sound of cannon fire filled the air as the first large firework was shot off. It burst into strands of red and blue before blinking out of sight. Then another shot upward, exploding into shimmering gold with red stars.
And I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.
I was excited and nervous, but most of all, I was happy. Happy I had a friend who knew my secret and accepted me anyway.
***
Ryan’s obnoxious snores woke me from a dead sleep. He was on his stomach, one arm hanging off the bed and his fingers touching my forehead. We’d gotten to his house around two in the morning, and it’d been a challenge putting his drunk ass to bed.
It was still dark outside, way too early for me to be awake.
I turned over and tried to go back to sleep. After another hour of tossing and turning on my pallet on the floor, I gave up on sleep and went to the bathroom to take a piss. The living room clock ticked loudly through the quiet house, and I checked the time as I walked by to go to the kitchen.
Five a.m.
I’d gotten less than three hours of sleep. Sitting at the kitchen table in the dark, I texted Emery.
Me:Your son is keeping me awake. Send help.
He replied a few minutes later.
Liam:You can’t sleep so you wake me up too so we can be miserable together?
Me:hehe
Liam:You’re lucky I like you.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I texted him back.
Emery made my life better. I woke up every morning thinking of him, and he was the last thing I thought about when I went to sleep. When he wasn’t with me, I counted down the hours until I saw him again—until I could taste him and touch him. Hear his laugh. See his smile.
I was falling and falling hard.
Me:I can’t wait to see you.
Liam:Wear tennis shoes when you come over.
Me:Why? Please don’t tell me you have a foot fetish that I’m just now gonna find out about.
Liam:Good god. No.
“Cason?”
I shrieked and dropped my phone on the table.
“Sorry!” Amber said, turning on the light and pulling her robe tighter around her tiny frame. “Didn’t mean to startle you. What are you doing up?”
Ryan snored again, the sound so loud that it traveled down the hall and reached us in the kitchen.
“Oh. Gotcha.” She shook her head with a laugh. “Want me to make some coffee? I can’t sleep either.”
“That’d be great.”
Amber measured out the coffee and added water to the machine before hitting Start. It was strange being around her now. She’d had a whole life with Emery. Knew his touch.
