Page 97 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Bill looks at me, then to Harrison. “Oh.” He shrugs. “That makes sense.”

They are not scandalized. Or concerned. Seemingly.

Bill crosses to the coffee pot and grabs the freshly brewed cup.

“Start me one,” Dad says, settling on a stool at the breakfast bar. “So,” he says to me. “You need to bring Ivy to the house, you realize.”

I’m resigned to the ridiculousness at this point. “Yes, I realize that.”

“What about Liam?” Harrison asks, grabbing another muffin.

“Who’s Liam?” Bill asks.

I lean back against the counter, settling in. See? Harrison matches their energy.

“Liam is Ivy’s boyfriend,” Harrison tells them.

My dad sits up straighter. Bill turns.

“What?” they ask at the same time.

Harrison just nods. “Ivy and Liam are dating.”

“And Harrison is in love with Liam,” I add, lifting my mug in a little salute.

Harrison nods again. “Right. The dark-haired guy with us at the cafe, on the boardwalk, and at Raw. And Ford is falling in love with Ivy. And Ireallylike her too.”

Bill frowns. “So you’re sleeping with…Liam.” He looks very confused. “But you’re—” He looks at me. “Sleeping with Ivy?”

Harrison and I look at one another, grin, and then nod. “Right,” we say simultaneously.

“But Liam and Ivy are sleeping together?” my dad asks.

“Yes. And Harrison has slept with Ivy too,” I say.

Bill and my dad exchange a look.

Then they both start grinning.

“Finally,” Bill says.

“Thank goodness,” my dad agrees.

Harrison and I frown. “Finally?” I ask.

“Thank goodness we’re both sleeping with Liam and Ivy?” Harrison asks. “That’s kind of an extreme reaction, considering you don’t even know them. They could be psychopaths.”

They ignore that.

“Thank goodnessyoutwo are finally together,” my dad says. He crosses to me and pulls me into a hug. “You know we’ve hoped for this for so long.”

Oh. This.

Again.

When Harrison came out to our families, both at once over brunch one Sunday by the way, they immediately started hoping for the same from me and that Harrison and I would be a couple forever.

I pull back. “Sorry Dad, I’m still totally straight.”

---