Page 126 of Off Limits

“It’s not.” His voice hardened. “And you don’t have to believe me, but Dex told Steven about us today, so unless you want to call Dex a liar, it’s the truth.”

“He told Steven?”

“Yes, less than half an hour ago. That’s why I called. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

“I don’t understand,” she said slowly.

“What’s not to understand? Dex is bi, I’m gay, and we’re dating.”

“But…”

“But what?”

“Why would he date you?”

I bit my inner cheek so I didn’t snap at her. This was Asa’s conversation. I’d step in if he wanted me to, but it was hard to listen to her talk to him this way.

“Wooooow.” He dragged out the word and made it sound as condescending as possible. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“Don’t get smart with me,” she snapped. “You call me out of the blue and drop this huge thing on me and you expect me to not have questions?”

“Actually, yeah. I expected you to be my mother and tell me that you love and support me and not insinuate that I’m a liar or not good enough for Dex just because you don’t like me.”

“I never said I don’t like you?—”

“You do, constantly. You tell me what a disappointment I am, how incompetent or stupid I am. How you wish I was different or would change to be whoyouwant me to be. You don’t think that’s the same as telling me you don’t like me? What about when you say you wish I’d never been born?”

My entire nervous system glitched out for a second. What the fuck?

“I didn’t mean it likethat,” she said defensively. “You’re taking my words out of context.”

“In what universe is there a context that makes telling your child you wish they’d never been born okay?” he asked incredulously.

“You’re deliberately twisting my words, the same as your father always did,” she accused.

“No, I’m not. I’m repeating them verbatim.” He sighed. “I don’t want to fight about this. I called to tell you that I’m dating someone, and I’m happy. I know it’s going to take some time for you to process that it’s Dex, but it is what it is.”

“You can’t date your stepbrother. It’s not right.”

“We’re not related, and we’re adults,” he repeated. “I understand it’s strange to think about, but we’re together. I hope you’ll be able to accept it, but I understand if you can’t.”

“But—”

“I’m going to hang up before either of us says something we can’t take back,” he cut in. “Hopefully I’ll talk to you later.”

He ended the call and put the phone on the couch beside him.

“Babe?” I asked when he didn’t look at me, just sat there staring at a spot on the floor.

He slid his gaze to mine. “You called me babe.”

I tried to hide my relief at his expression. He didn’t look crushed or like he was retreating into himself. He seemed relieved.

“Is that okay? It just slipped out.”

“Yeah.” He smiled, a flush coloring his cheeks. “I like it.”

“Are you okay?”

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