Page 65 of If This Gets Out

“What? No, nothing like that.”

“Damn,” he says, then he peers at me. “Holy shit, you like guys?”

Well, that’s one way for this to go down.

“Um, yeah, actually. I’m bi.”

“Called it,” he says, then takes another bite of his sausage. Jon goes really still.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you two sooner, I was just figuring stuff out, and then… well. Jon, you’re being really quiet.”

“Am I? Sorry, I’m just listening.” Something must cross my face, because his eyes widen. “You know I love you no matter what, right?”

“Yeah. I love you, too.”

He grins, then lightly punches me on the shoulder. “This is great. Good for you, Zach.”

Angel glances at me, and then at Ruben, who’s pointedly avoiding eye contact with him.“No.”

“What?” says Jon.

“They’re hooking up.”

Jon whips his head around so fast I’m worried he’s going to hurt himself.“What?”

Ruben asks me a question with his eyes:Can I tell them?

I nod. Here we go.

“Angel’s not off base,” he says.

“Holy shit,” says Angel. “This ishuge.”

“Keep your voice down,” hisses Jon. “Have you told Erin?”

“Not yet, but we kind of have to,” I say. “Keegan caught us last night.”

“Scandal!” says Angel. “Ugh, I love this. You two got busted having sex by security, the drama of it all.”

I start blushing.

Jon frowns. “That means they’re basically forcing you out, Zach.”

“No, I mean…”

“That’s what it sounds like to me.”

“Agreed,” says Angel. “It’s bullshit.”

“I’m okay with people knowing,” I say. “Seriously. Sure, maybe this isn’t the timeline I would’ve picked for myself, but it’s fine. I’m not ashamed of being bi.”

“You shouldn’t be,” says Ruben.

“You do know that Dad’s going to freak out about this?” says Jon, glancing between Ruben and me. “But I’m happy for you, though. I promise. You make a cute couple.”

Ruben goes red. “We’re not a couple.”

“Friends with benefits, then, whatever,” Angel jumps in. “It’s still cute.” He stands. “You know what this calls for, right? Group huuugggg.”

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