Page 86 of Finding You

“Hey, Ky?”

Dallas felt Kylen stiffen beside him. There were a handful of people left, and Grace had been passing around a giant box full of s’mores ingredients. Dallas’s fingers were sticky from melted marshmallow, and he was buzzing from sugar and the want to be anywhere but there.

“Did you know your boyfriend was married?”

Kylen snorted. “Yes, I knew he was married.”

“To a woman,” Grace said.

Kylen rolled his eyes. “Is that supposed to be some kind of gotcha? Because yeah, I did know. It’s almost like bisexual people exist.”

“But you’re not bi,” she pointed out.

“Nope. I’m a gay man who got drunk and put my dick inside a woman without a condom because drunk me makes bad decisions.”

“Kylen,” his mother hissed.

“Unclutch your pearls, Mom. Everyone here knows how babies are made,” Kylen said dryly, and Dallas had to physically force his laugh to stay in his chest. “What’s your point, Grace?”

“Only that I know your secret.” Her eyes were fixed on Dallas.

Dallas stiffened. “Mine?”

Grace’s eyes locked on him. “Both of yours. My brother’s kind of careless with his stuff. I think he also forgets that he has his text message app synced with his laptop. So I know. And I have to say, you’re both amazing actors. You could win an Oscar for this performance.”

Dallas shifted closer to Kylen, who was shaking with rage. He thought about saying something—anything—that might have diffused his anger, but there was no point. Kylen needed to do this.

“You went through my texts?”

“You let me use your computer,” Grace said with a shrug. “And it might not be my best moment, but I took screenshots, Ky. I have proof that this is all bullshit.” She waved her hand between Dallas and Kylen. “You invented this little relationship to convince us?—”

“Enough. Yes, Dallas agreed to play boyfriend after I used his name in a lie,” Kylen said, his voice rising. “And the reason I had to lie is because none of you respect me. All of you would rather I live miserable and alone instead of be a homo.”

Dallas could feel the tension rising in the group.

“Don’t you think it’s better for your daughter to live in a home with a mother and a father?” Kylen’s aunt eventually asked.

Kylen started to rise, but Dallas grabbed his hand and held fast. He took a beat, then turned to Dallas. “I’m sorry you have to be here for this.”

“Don’t be. Say what you need to say,” Dallas told him. “I’m with you, and I’m not going anywhere. This garbage will not scare me off.”

“You can drop the act,” Grace said flatly. “We all know it’s bullshit. You’re straight.”

Dallas didn’t look away from Kylen’s gaze when he spoke. “I’m not straight. I’m not gay either. My sexuality is none of your business, but if it’ll put an end to the madness, I’ll confess the only thing that actually matters.”

Grace scoffed. “Which is?”

“That I’m in love with your brother.”

In that moment, it was as if the world went silent. Dallas could hear his own heartbeat, and he swore he could hear the thrumming of Kylen’s in his chest. They were matched in speed and strength. Kylen’s eyes widened a fraction, and his tongue darted out to lick his lips.

“I’m serious,” Dallas added. He knew Kylen was afraid this was for show. And Dallas had no plans to tell him like this, but enough was enough. “I’m in love with you.”

Kylen swallowed heavily. “Yeah?”

Dallas laughed and nodded, reaching one hand up to cup his face. “Yeah. It’s…God, I don’t even have words for it. I want to be with you all the time. Every time you go home—or every time I do—it kills me. I know this is ridiculous. It’s too fast, but?—”

“No,” Kylen snapped, then slapped a hand over his face and shook his head. “Sorry. I mean, no. I mean, I feel the same way. I don’t care if it’s foolish or too fast or whatever. I’m in love with you too.”

---