Page 47 of The Jock
“Oh, is it? You’re lucky that I’m not a spiteful person or I’d have to prove you wrong just for the sake of it.” Milo smoothed a hand down his shirt, trying to calm his nerves. “I’m happy that you invited me.”
“I’m happy you said yes.” Colby slowed and pulled into a driveway and killed the engine, but instead of getting out of the car, he unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at Milo. “I’ve been trying for days to come up with a way to say this.”
Milo’s heart slammed against his ribcage like a wild animal trying to break free.
“How should I introduce you? Are we friends? Are we more than friends?”
The question shouldn’t have caught Milo off guard, but it did. He sat there speechless, gaping at Colby trying to digest the words he’d just said.
“I…” Milo closed his mouth and furrowed his brow. “Do they know?”
“I told them the other day that I was bisexual. They took it remarkably well, as expected. Nothing much fazes this group.”
“You told your family?”
“Of course, I did. I wanted to bring you, and I wanted to be able to look at you as much as I liked, and hold your hand or cuddle with you if I wanted. You know, all those things that other couples get to do.”
Milo was stunned into silence. Never before had anyone done anything like that just for him. No one had ever thought Milo was worth the risk. Neville took bites out of Milo, shredding his self confidence, even his sense of self until he was small enough to suit Neville. And then Neville had promptly discarded him in every way you can throw a person away without actually giving them up.
“Come on,” Colby popped his door open. “We better get in there before they send out a search party.”
Milo managed to climb out of the car and he went around to the other side where Colby waited for him. Milo reached for him and Colby laced their fingers together in a way that gave Milo butterflies.
Milo wasn’t the kind of person who’d ever paid much attention to houses and what style they were, but whatever style it was, Colby’s house was charming. A single story with a basement. Those old-timey looking shutters that were probably for decoration instead of function.
Colby tugged him around the side. “Everyone goes in the back way on fire night.” He stopped at a gate and grabbed the handle. “Last chance to run.”
“Open the gate, Colby,” Milo said.
Walking into the backyard was like walking into Narnia. Growing up, Milo and Colby had obviously had very different experiences. Milo was raised by a single dad just like Colby was, but that’s where the similarities ended.
Colby had a robust group of family and friends. They were bound to him by ties of blood and honest affection. After Milo came out and his dad started ignoring him, Milo’s older brother followed his example, leaving Milo to find his own family with Gino and his Gran. He’d had to learn the hard way that blood makes you related, but it doesn’t make you family. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his dad, let alone talked to him. It was an old ache now, the pain not as sharp as it once was, but it still lingered in the background.
A man that looked like Colby might in twenty years came over and clapped Colby on the shoulder. “Good to see you, kid.”
Then he turned his attention to Milo and instead of shaking his hand, he clapped Milo on the shoulder too and looked at him with a sort of soft affection that made Milo’s insides go all squirrely. “It’s good to have you here, Milo. Taylor told me all about you.” He paused, giving Milo a moment to wrap his head around everything he’d just said. “I haven’t seen Taylor this happy in a long time. Thank you.”
“It was nothing, Mister…” Milo trailed off, unsure of how to address Colby’s dad.
“None of that. You can call me Ethan, or you can call me Dad. Everyone around here does.”
Milo squeezed Colby’s hand for support. Ethan’s kindness had knocked Milo for a loop. He couldn’t remember the last time his dad had a kind word for him. Milo would always love his dad, but he couldn’t bring himself to like the man anymore. That ship had sailed and Milo didn’t see himself ever reconciling with him. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to call Ethan “Dad.” Even if he wanted to pretend that he could belong to this group of people in some permanent way.
“Thank you for having me, Ethan.”
“Come on, the rest of them are dying to meet you and I have ribs to babysit.” Ethan slung his arm around Colby’s shouldersand led them into the fray. Having already met Taylor, it was easy to pick out who the remaining brother was. All the brothers looked a bit alike. They weren’t doppelgangers or anything close to looking like twins, but they all had that distinct family resemblance going on.
“Milo, this is Jonah and his boyfriend Spencer. They’re teachers at the high school.”
Jonah stood and shook Milo’s hand. “It’s good to meet you, Milo.”
Milo didn’t miss the way Jonah smiled at their linked hands. Clearly Colby’s coming out had gone off without a hitch. Which was nice for him. Milo didn’t want to be the cause of any problems in Colby’s life.
“It’s good to meet you too. So, teachers, huh? What subjects?” Milo shifted uncomfortably. Small talk was hard, and he was desperate to make a good impression, making the knot of awkwardness in his chest increase tenfold.
“I teach math and Spencer teaches shop. Metal and woodwork. He’s also a brilliant artist. He makes these badass sculptures.”
Colby leaned closer to Milo. “Careful, Milo. If you show an interest in Spencer’s sculptures, Jonah will pull his phone out and spend the next hour showing you his work.”
