Page 33 of The Step Don't

But now that a floodgate of questions has opened, I’m starting to worry. “Have I not been paying enough attention? Did you need me to bring it up? Or should we just drop it? You know, I think I’ll shut up and let you tell me what you need. You know I’m here for you if you need to talk about anything, right?”

That gets him chuckling. “Now you’re the one who’s concerned about me. What is wrong with us? Maybe because I’ve known you as bi for so long, it seems like if that’s what it is, that’s what it is. I’m not going to stress about it, but I think it’s adorable you care so much.”

I can’t shake my uneasiness, though. Not about himquestioning why he’s feeling this way, but that I—who proudly know him better than anyone else in the world—missed something.

Now I get why he was so rattled when he found out about my Step Don’t.

Colin must see the anxiousness in my expression because he reaches over and takes my hand. It’s not unlike something he would have done with me before, but it feels warmer than usual, and our gazes meet. I’m waiting for him to pull his hand away, but we both just start snickering as heat stirs in my cheeks.

“Is that doing anything for you?” I ask Colin.

“I don’t know. Is my face as red as yours?”

“A little pink.”

We’re still snickering when the pizzas arrive. I’m annoyed they finished them so quickly because I was enjoying Colin’s hand in mine. As the waitress finishes setting the food and plates up for us, we’re grinning at each other.

Because where the fuck do we go from here?

When she finally heads off, I just spit it out. “This is so strange.”

Colin shrugs. “What about today has been strange? I can’t imagine what you’re referring to.”

“Why don’t we call Marty and put him on speaker, tell him, and then gauge his reaction to determine how normal it is?”

Colin slides his phone out of his pocket. He’s got one distinctly raised eyebrow.

“You would never.”

“Oh, a challenge?”

“Yes, a fucking challenge.”

Because there’s no way in hell. And when he starts pulling up his contacts, I fold my arms. “If you think I’m stopping you, you’re outta your goddamn mind.”

Colin sets his phone down by the pizza so I can see Marty’s name and photo as he places the call on speaker. The phone trills a few times. I doubt Marty will even answer, but we’re both making eye contact. He must think I’m gonna snatch the phone and demand he not say anything.

The trilling stops, and Marty says, “Hey, man, what’s up?”

“Oh, hey, Mart. Just wanted to reach out. Had something dirty I wanted to share with you.”

“Oh really?” Marty’s voice is full of interest. As much of a pain as he can be sometimes, the guy loves gossip.

“Ash and I just jerked off together, and I’m wondering if maybe that makes me queer? I’m certainly questioning things.”

I notice he left out the live streaming, and I’m sure it’s because that’s my secret. Even when I’m fucking challenging him, he still goes out of his way to protect me.

I’m stunned that this is happening, but it’s so us.

Marty’s silent for a few moments. What the fuck is he gonna say? He’s such a prude, he’s gonna freak the fuck out.

But then I hear a deep roaring laugh, so loud that the audio blows out a few times. “What bet did you lose that you had to call and tell me that?”

“What the hell?” Colin says. “I call and share my innermost secrets with you, and this is the reaction I get?”

Surely he’s saying all this because he knows there’s no way in hell Marty’s gonna believe any of it.

Marty’s still in stitches. “Right, okay. Tell Troy I said hey. I get it. I need to lay off the stepbrother teasing. Got it. Noted. Now you know damn well I got studying to do, so I’ll catch you later.”

---