Page 94 of Kiss-Fist
‘New name for you,’ I sign at my brother. ‘Garbage.’
He laughs and shrugs. ‘This is what you get when you hide boyfriends.’ Then he signs his name for me: horny rooster corn.
Thom has sort of seen it. He’s seen evidence of it, at least. I’m fairly sure a couple of people used it at drag night. But after today, if I don’t stop these assholes, he’s going to know.
Fucking hell.
Theo waves his hand between all of us. ‘Why is Cody saying he’s hearing?’
Everyone’s eyes are on me, and I heave a sigh. This is what I wanted. There’s nothing about Thom I want to hide. He’s fantastic. No, he’s more than fantastic. He’s kind and tender, but he’s also a little mean and rough anytime I want him to be. He’s gorgeous and not humble about it, even when his self-esteem takes a few hits.
And above all that, he likes me. He likes me as I am: fussy and nerdy and too often unyielding. He likes me grumpy, and he likes when I smile.
I don’t have to be someone else around him.
Everyone’s face lights up.
‘He’s in love,’ Quinn signs dramatically.
‘Shut up.’
‘Look-look,’ Alex signs, leaning in close to my sister with a little grin. ‘His face. That’s love.’
I flip them all the bird—a sign Thom will have no problem understanding when he gets here. ‘Stop,’ I finally insist. ‘Yes, he’s hearing. Yes, he’s my boyfriend. And I like him.’ My hands hover, my fingers itching to sign the words I’m not even close to ready for. ‘He’s important to me. And I need you all to be careful with him. He’s still learning. He’s in his first semester of ASL, and there are some people who haven’t been very nice about that.’
As predicted, all of my siblings look outraged.
‘Who?’ Theo demands.
‘Just tell me who,’ Alice adds.
‘We’ll talk to them,’ Quinn declares.
I wave them off. ‘It’s fine. He’s strong. He can handle it. But I need you all to be…’ I hesitate. Better than Rome. They will be, it’s not even a question. Welcoming—that’s no trouble. They’ll be too welcoming. I can already see the future. Thom will end up over here baking with my mom and digging garden paths with my dad, and I won’t even be invited.
That settles something warm in my chest.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance down to see Thom’s name.
Thom: OMW! Ten mins. Kissy face. Eggplant. Egg. Chicken.
I smile at his absurd emojis and then glance up to see everyone’s expressions. They look absolutely feral. Today is going to be…a day. Shit. But I need this. I need to see how it’s going to go. I need to know that this warm, comfortable, good feeling in my chest is going to last.
And then it’s entirely shattered when the porch light flashes, indicating the doorbell. A moment later, my dad appears in the doorway, a mask of worry on his face. His hands are uncertain as he lifts them and tells me, ‘Rome is here to see you.’
They know him, of course. He’s the son of a friend of a friend or…whatever. He’s always been around, even before I was aware of him. And though he and I have never said anything, everyone knows what we have been to each other.
My brothers look instantly worried. Quinn waves a hand at me. ‘He knows, right?’
Something on my face must give me away entirely because Theo takes a step forward. ‘Was it him who made Thom feel uncomfortable?’
I nod, and my brothers exchange a knowing look. There’s a story there, but before I can demand they tell me everything, Rome steps through the open back door. All four of my siblings stiffen, like they’re prepared to form a human shield in front of me, but I wave them off.
It’s fine. I have some shit I need to say to Rome after what he pulled at Thom’s gym. I have no idea why he was there, but he has no business in that place, bugging my boyfriend. And he has no fucking business putting his nose in my relationship.
Seeing him leaves me freshly pissed off about how he’d nearly ruined what Thom and I had. The look of doubt on Thom’s face didn’t belong there.
‘Can we talk?’ He seems nervous.
