Page 100 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“It’s called fluidity, Rayne. It’s not as simple as you think.”

“It’s also not that complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “I’m straight. I know I’m straight. I like Hale, and I like having a monogamous marriage. Can you claim the same?”

He met my stare. “No.”

“Then why stress over it? Be gay or be bi or pan or whatever you want to label yourself. The label doesn’t matter, Ty. I love you any way you come. And I never want you to feel like you have to hide your true self from me.”

He reached across the counter and squeezed my hand. “Thank you.”

I smiled. “Now, we can finally talk about it.”

“What do you mean,finally?”

“Ty, I suspected you liked guys since we were kids. You were obsessed with JimmyFerguson and made us go to all the football games.”

He blushed then his expression turned apologetic. “Part of me was scared—not of you or what you’d say, but of what my life would become once I admitted who I actually was. The world’s easy for straight guys. I wasn’t ready to give that up.”

“It doesn’t have to be difficult, Ty.”

“I know. But you also can’t guarantee me it’ll be easy, Rayne.”

I squeezed his hand. “No matter what it is, I’m here for you.”

“Thank you.”

I glanced at the door. “So…is Xander, like…the first guy you kissed?”

He blew out a long breath and laughed to himself. Then he met my stare. “He’s fucking hot.”

“Yeah, the assholes usually are.”

“Is he an asshole?”

I shrugged. “Hale says no, but I’m not so sure. I might have been misreading him.”

“Fuck, Ray, what am I doing?” He rubbed his forehead. “This is so unlike me. I don’t even know that guy. I don’t just go around kissing people. I went out with Carla four timesbefore I kissed her.”

“Who’s Carla?”

“My girlfriend!”

“Oh. Right. I keep forgetting about her.”

“Tell me about it.”

We both glanced at the door, and I sighed. “We should probably go back out there.”

Tyler hesitated. “How am I supposed to act, now? I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

I laughed. “Act normal, you weirdo. Just go out there and be cool.”

“It’s pretty bad when you’re the one giving me behavioral advice.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve had a lot of experience with awkwardness. I know how these things go. Just walk out there and act like nothing happened. Let him take the lead.”

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