Page 208 of Sticks and Stones
“You don’t have to thank me. That’s what family does, and that’s what brothers do. I have siblings, so I know what it feels like to be able to call them if I need them.”
Corbin was curious.
“Do you call them?”
He laughed.
“Hell no! They don’t know I’m gay, and my Midwestern family would have problems with that. I mean, if I had car trouble, or money trouble, yeah, I’d call them. If I had a fight with my boyfriend…I’d call you. I’m not an idiot. I like to let the pros handle the things they can handle. I’ve seen you watch Ethan and study him. You’d give me better advice than they would any day.”
Now, Corbin felt a little better.
He felt surrounded with love, and that helped him fortify himself. It was going to be a long battle back, and he knew it.
“The bottom line is that we will keep you safe, and we’ll make sure you’re not in danger.”
He needed to know.
“Will I ever be okay again?” Corbin asked. “Will I ever feel like Corbin again? Because now, I don’t know how to be myself.”
Here came the bad news.
So, Gene sat him down.
Then, he held his hand in his bigger one.
“It’s going to take time, Corby. It’s not going to be easy, but yes, one day, you will be back to that annoying pain in my ass who’s always hitting on my man and trying to kiss him.”
He laughed a little.
“I mean, if this will make you cave and let me cuddle up to him…”
He snorted.
“See? There he is, lurking and waiting for me to lower my defenses so he can steal my man right out from under me. Rule seven is be paranoid. Always.”
He was confused.
“What happened to three through six?” he asked, meaning the rules.
“In due time, grasshopper. In due time.”
His kindness and gentleness helped Corbin.
Gene wasn’t treating him like he was anyone but Corbin, and that was exactly why he didn’t want to see his parents or Will.
For now, he needed to regroup.
“I know you, Corbin. You’re tough. What they did to you is horrible, and if you need to talk it out, I’ll be there to listen. It doesn’t matter if it’s today, tomorrow, or six months from now. If you have to get it off of your chest, I’ll be here to let you talk it out. That’s how you heal.”
Yeah, that’s what Ethan told him.
Since he was offering, Corbin needed his advice about the other thing that was making him feel horrible.
“Did I make a mistake by not submitting the rape kit to catch them through court? Should I have been stronger and able to face them?”
There was no right or wrong for that one.
Not in this case.
