Page 122 of Explosive Prejudice

Clenching my jaw, I looked aside, took a deep breath, and nodded. “Yeah. Got a problem with that?” I asked after returning my unapologetic stare to meet his.

“Fuck no,” he said, then pushed back against his chair. Moving his hand over his face, he let out a loud breath. “I just didn’t see it coming.”

I kept quiet until Iván spoke again. “Didn’t you like girls? You used to watch porno with chicks and use my magazines and shit.”

This was really fucking awkward.

“I did, okay? It’s the first time I’ve been with a man and the first time I’ve ever loved someone. If you can’t accept that, then I don’t give a fuck.”

“Whoa, whoa.” He paused, putting his hands before him. “Love? You say my little brother’s in love?”

The smile spreading on his lips lifted the weight off my chest, making me feel better. This was the first time I’d admitted to loving Shay-Lee out loud, and it felt nice.

“Yeah, I am.”

Pulling out a photo strip from my pocket, I handed it to Iván. Last weekend, Shay-Lee and I went to the movies when he spotted one of those old photo booths. He insisted we take some photos, and despite arguing about it, I was the one who ended up saving the images. Already knowing I’d tell Iván about Shay-Lee today, I kept the photos on me when the guards took away my things before entering the visitors’ room.

“Well, ain’t he pretty.” Iván whistled, checking out the images.

The photos showed the escalation of Shay-Lee laughing while I kissed his neck and tickled his side. He was so happy in that moment that his beauty shone, even through the black-and-white grain of the image.

“He is, isn’t he?” I said proudly, my mind going back to those long minutes he had rolled in laughter and then later into the night, where he lay beneath me with the most divine expression a man can dream of.

“Yeah. I’d fuck him.”

“What did you say?” My eyes shot to him immediately.

“Relax, Principito. I’m just messing around. As pretty as he is, I don’t swing that way.” He winked, and I cursed the idiot. “I can’t wait to meet him,” he added.

“Yeah. Shay-Lee would like that, too.”

“Hold the fuck on, Shay-Lee?” His brows reached his hairline. “Wasn’t that the guy you hated? The one you kept fighting with and telling me about?”

Rolling my eyes, I grunted, then put the images back safely in my pocket. “Yeah, that’s the one.” During my visits, Shay-Lee’s name may have popped up in the conversation a few times. Or a lot of times.

Iván laughed so hard it was enough to get the guard’s attention, who warned him to stay calm.

“Asshole,” my brother muttered once the guard left our table, then returned his full attention back to me. “By the way, what made you come here today? You never come on Fridays.”

“Couldn’t come earlier because of finals.” The last test was behind me, which meant I never again needed to study math. “Surprisingly, I didn’t fail any test, meaning I’ll graduate in two weeks.” Noticing the odd glint in Iván’s eyes, I frowned. “The hell is that look?”

“I’m proud of you, Principito. So fucking proud.”

I faked a cough, pretending his words didn’t move me, and got up. “Anyway, I better get going. I have an early shift in the club and then some stupid party.”

“A party?” Iván asked as he remained seated.

“Yeah, a party. Something about the end of the year? Who cares. Shay-Lee wants to go, and arguing with him is a pain.”

Iván chuckled, then stood. “Listen to you, sounding like a married man.” He rounded the table and stepped closer. “Any chance there’s a wedding coming soon?”

“Fuck off,” I grunted, and he only laughed more.

“Just make sure not to get married before I’m out, yeah? Ain’t no way I’m not there as your best man.” As he spoke, the golden necklace he had around his neck caught my eye. It belonged to our mom, and after her death, he had kept it. Unlike me, Iván had never been angry with our mom and didn’t blame her for leaving us behind. It bothered me that while I couldn’t seem to let go of my anger, he never had it in the first place.

Not wanting to sour my mood, I looked away from the necklace and back at him.

“You bet,” I said, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him into the tightest hug I could. Kissing my cheek, he then hugged me back, squeezing me with the strength only he had.

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