Page 27 of More Than a Spark

Tapping my shoulder, Cash said, “No, you’re not.”

I peered at Cash. “Watch me.” Gabe was in for it.

It was like Gabe had heard me. The door in the kitchen flung open and he strolled in with Jeremy following him, holding a bakery box. “Hey, boys. Guess what I’ve got?” He beamed at us. “A box of those yummy rainbow cupcakes from Queer Confections.” He strode to the couch and set the box on the coffee table. “Devin gave us some for free while we were there having breakfast this morning.”

“Devin must have been up early.” Cash hooked a brow at Gabe, then turned it on me. “Milo here is going to beat something out of you, so be careful.”

I scrambled to sit up straight. “Gabe, what the hell did Ryder tell you last night?” I eyed him. He better spill it.

“Oh shit.” Gabe hung his head and rubbed his temple, then glanced at Jeremy.

Jeremy brushed by Gabe and dropped into the couch. “Milo, Ryder needs to tell you when he’s ready. You need to let it be.” He pursed his lips. “Believe me, you need to let it be.”

“So, you know what’s going on, too?” I stared at him. Was I the only one in the dark here? I crossed my arms over my chest and harrumphed. “He’s making me wait until Friday. I might die of curiosity by then.”

“You’ll live.” Gabe opened the box of cupcakes. “Here, maybe one of these will help.”

I let a slow grin work over my lips. It wasn’t Gabe’s fault. In his own way, I was sure he was helping. “Thanks, these look great.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Cash picked up a cupcake, bit into it, and moaned.

Silas strolled out from the hallway. “Hey, that’s my mating call.” He curled his finger at Cash. “Why don’t you bring one of those into the bedroom?” He wagged his brows.

“My, what a grand idea.” Cash plucked a second cupcake out of the box and stalked toward Silas.

“Ew.” Gabe chortled. “Turn on the news, loudly, so we don’t have to listen to whatever weird shit they’re going to do with that cupcake.”

I picked up the remote, turned the TV on, then grabbed my own cupcake. I’d get through this week. I had my ridiculous friends to help me through it.

EIGHT

RYDER

The day was almost done and I was sitting on the bed in the guest bedroom of Dad’s house. I’d been thinking about this thing with Milo all day. I owed him an explanation for my behavior and I had to figure my shit out before I lost my chance with Milo for good.

I opened my phone and tapped through to the Knot Me Instagram account, found Gabe’s profile, then hit the message button.

@Ryder_Scott

Hey, can I talk to you and maybe Jeremy?

I bit my thumbnail. I could only hope he’d see my message and would have some time to talk to me. A notification popped up.

@GabeDrums

Yes, we’re both in my room. Can I call you?

I sent him my phone number and stared at my phone. I was in luck. The phone buzzed with a number I didn’t recognize, and I answered it. “Hello? Is this Gabe?”

“And Jeremy. I’ve got you on speaker. That okay?” Gabe said.

“Yeah, fine. Milo can’t hear you, can he?” I winced. Why did I have to say that? These guys weren’t stupid.

“No, he’s out in the main room watching TV, I think,” Gabe said. “Talk to us. We’re here for you.”

My heart warmed. “Okay, so I guess where I’m coming from is…well how the hell am I attracted to guys all of a sudden? I mean, I’ve looked at guys before, sure, but I thought that was normal.” Furrowing my brows, I rubbed my forehead. Surely most people were like Milo and knew they were queer at a young age.

“Ryder, this is Jeremy. I was just like you when I met Gabe. He, I don’t know, turned me.” He freed a soft laugh. “I’m joking, but really, I think when we’re bisexual, it’s easy to live in the heterosexual world. Until it’s not.”

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