Page 76 of Daily Grind
“Bri, you’reyou. Of course we’re okay.”
“Not all families are.” He studied his hands. “I get the feeling Rob’s weren’t.”
Len was quiet for a while. “You’re my little brother. I’ll always have your back.”
They pulled up in front of his apartment. “You have my back ’cause I’m always one step ahead of you.”
Len punched him in the arm, then pulled him into a hug. “You’re a jackass.”
“Love you, too, Len.”
He got out, grabbed his bike, and headed up into his apartment. Once everything was put away, he changed into a pair of gray sweats and flopped down on his bed.
Almost eleven—dinners at his parents seemed to go on forever and yet fly by too fast. He sent a quick text to Rob.You still awake?
A minute later, his phone rang. “Yes, of course I am.”
Hearing Rob’s voice warmed his blood. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself. How’d it go with your family.”
He couldn’t help the laugh. “Unbelievably well. They knew.”
“That you were dating me?” Incredulousness in his voice.
Brian slid a hand over his bare stomach. “No, that I was bi.” He paused. “Well, not exactly that I was bi…” He filled Rob in on the conversation he’d had with his parents.
A laugh. “Good lord, that must have been something.”
“It gets better. So Mom basically set me up to spill my guts at the dinner table to my siblings… and after I did, my sister quips thatshewanted to be the queer of the family.”
Silence, then a huff of laughter. “And no one set anything on fire?”
“Nah. Everything was cool. Though my mom was ticked that my sister’s been dating for six months and hasn’t brought a girlfriend over yet.”
Another exhale. “Jesus.” Rob’s voice was heavy with emotion. “Your family sounds amazing.”
Mist in his eyes and gravel in his throat. “They are. I want you to meet them.”
Whispered words from the other end. “I’d like that.”
“You’re one of the best things that ever happened to me. I want to share you with the world.”
“You’re fucking fearless,” Rob said. “And I love you.”
Those words were lightning in his heart. “Love you, too.” He did. God, he did.
They talked until far too late and after many yawns on both their parts, finally said good night. Brian slipped under his covers, set his alarm, and turned off the light.
His family. The shop. Rob. Everything was going to be okay.
Chapter Fifteen
For Brian,the following week flew by. Maybe getting everything out in the open with his family helped, or perhaps because the scheduling at the shop had fallen into a decent rhythm and his twelve-hour shifts had fallen off. Oh, he was there most days, but between the new hires, Mark, and Miranda picking up a few more hours, he’d had time off. Most of it was on weekdays, so he hadn’t seen Rob as often as they both wanted, but they managed.
They’d found time Wednesday evening to look at the work he’d done on the photos Rob had sent him. He’d had proofs made up of eight photographs, the best of the best.
“These—” Rob’s hands shook when he held the proofs. “These can’t be mine.”
