Page 121 of Their Wicked Ways

“And we love you just as much as we did before you called,” Marilyn said.

“I feel so bad.” He chewed on his lip. “I didn’t mean to lie to you.”

“You didn’t lie to us,” Tabby said gently. “You don’t owe anyone the truth about your sexuality. Not telling us isn’t the same as lying. You’re the only person who can decide when you’re ready for someone else to know the truth about who you are.”

“I guess.” He smiled weakly. “I’m glad I told you.”

“We are too,” Tabby said. “Do you want to chat for a bit? Or do you have things you need to do?”

“I have stuff I need to do.” A guilty look crossed his features. “But I’ll call you soon, and we can catch up.”

“We look forward to it,” Marilyn said brightly.

They said their goodbyes, and Jett ended the call.

“How are you doing?” I asked when the silence stretched between us.

He put his phone on the coffee table in front of us and leaned against the back of the couch. “Not sure. I mean, I feel fine. They were great, just like I knew they would be.” He raked a hand through his messy hair and let out a weary sigh. “Does it ever get easier?”

“It gets less stressful.”

“That’s not a yes.” He shot me a flat look.

“No, but it’s the truth. At least in my experience.”

He arched his eyebrow in a silent question.

“Saying the words gets easier, but I don’t think the apprehension or underlying fear that things could go sideways ever truly goes away.”

“I can’t wait until we live in a world where queer people can just exist and not have to announce our sexuality to everyone we meet.” He toyed with the seam in his sweats.

“Me too.” I held out my arm.

He practically dove into my embrace and snuggled into my chest.

“Do you think we can watch that movie now?” he asked, his voice small and muffled. “I need to turn my brain off for a while.”

“Sure.” I kissed the top of his head. “I just need to grab my laptop.”

He untangled himself from me with a disgruntled sigh and sat quietly as I got my computer and set it up on the coffee table.

“Is this okay, or do you want it closer?”

“It’s good.”

“Is there anything you want to watch?”

“Something without a lot of plot. I’m not in thinking mode.”

I scrolled through my streaming service and cued up an older movie I’d watched a half dozen times. It was low on plot and heavy on action.

“Have you seen this?”

“No. I wanted to but never got around to it.”

“Want to watch it?”

“Sure.”

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