Page 26 of Fluffing the Stallion

“Thanks, man.”

Before we can say more, my phone rings and I fumble pulling it out of my pocket, hoping it’s Yuri. If I can’t be with him, at least I can hear his voice. But my brother Tommy’s—the oldest brother after me—name appears for a video chat.

Eyebrows furrowed, I answer. “Hey, Tommy.” It’s not like him to call me during the day. It’s not unheard of, but he’s usually busy with classes or studying. We tend to chat closer to dinner time.

“Hey douche. You busy?”

“Thomas!” my mother scolds him and I laugh as he ducks his head.

I lean back against the counter, settling in for our conversation. Dario indicates he’s going to his room and I salute him as he walks out.

Looking back at my phone, I tell Tommy, “Nah. I’m heading out to see … I’m heading out.”

I’m not ashamed to tell my family I’m involved with a man, but I don’t want to do it over the phone. That’s a conversation to have face to face.

“Open up,” Tommy says, jarring me back to the conversation.

“Huh?”

Three loud knocks sound at my door and I whip my head around. Hurrying over, I look out the peephole and almost shout with excitement. Throwing open the door, I see my entire family—my brothers and my parents—standing there smiling at me.

“Guys! What are you doing here?” I let them in and welcome a hug from my mother first. She rocks me back and forth and I close my eyes, soaking up the feeling of being in her arms. I’ve missed her.

Since I’ve been in school, the most I’ve been able to do is video call everyone. I haven’t seen my family in person in years, though we talk at least three times a week. With Max, it’s more like five times with him telling me all his random and new facts.

Everyone gives me a hug, talking over each other as they greet me. When we separate, I glance around. “Not that I’m not happy to see you all, but what are you doing here?”

My father slides his hands into his pockets. “We have some news we want to share with you. Instead of telling you over the phone we wanted to surprise you.”

“You drove here?” I ask incredulously.

“Heavens no,” my mother says, waving me away. “We caught a flight. Way more comfortable than sitting in a car for hours on end. Did you know it takes twenty hours to drive from Jansville to here?” She shakes her head like she can’t believe it.

I shake my head too, unaware it’s such a long way. I never thought of driving home, as I hate driving too far and I’m glad I didn’t try. It would have been a miserable trip.

Remember my manners I step away from the door, and gesture for them to take a seat in the living room. My brothers are about my size—all except Max, who’s still lanky but will definitely grow into his frame—so them sitting on our couches makes them look miniature. My mother sits in the only recliner, my father perched on the arm.

I sit down, looking around at them, a smile plastered on my face. “It’s good to see you all. I’ve missed you guys.” I try not to get choked up when I realize they really are here, not on a phone screen. “How long are you staying?”

“We have a flight heading out in three days. We figured we’d hang out with you for a bit,” Tommy says, bumping my shoulder with his.

“Yeah, for sure. Where are you staying?”

Max rolls his eyes. “Some fleabag motel. Dad said we can’t afford anything better.”

“Maximus!” my mother chides him, making me laugh as I remember her doing the same to me when I said some shit I wasn’t supposed to.

Dad looks a little ashamed, but he’s supporting a wife and four growing boys that live at home with him. “Yeah, well, I splurged for flights down here.”

Wanting to take the heat off him for trying his best, I wave them away. “Let me help. I can get you all an Airbnb so you can be more comfortable. If you’re going to be here for a few days, I insist. I’m sure you can get your money back for at least two nights, if not a full refund from the hotel.”

“Your job must pay well to afford that. I didn’t think big box stores let you shell out dough like that and pay your tuition,” Tommy says suspiciously. He always knows when I’m not telling the whole truth. We’re close enough that we know each other’s tells.

Though we talk often, I haven’t been able to find the words to tell Tommy about Yuri or Carnal Desires. I want him to know everything, but how do I tell my brother that I’m suddenly into dick and I have a boyfriend? Or at least I think Yuri is my boyfriend. Yuri and I have never talked about labels or what exactly we mean each other. In this situation, I wish we had. Then I would really have something to tell him.

Coming back to the conversation, I say, “I’ve been saving. It’s cool. Let me pull up the app and see what they have.”

It only takes me about fifteen minutes to find a house nearby that’s available. Then I follow my family in their rental to their hotel so we can pack them up. Max is right—this is a fleabag motel. It looks like it hasn’t been renovated in over twenty years, smells musty and stale, and has peeling wallpaper. I’m glad I’m able to get them out of here.

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