Page 53 of My Three Roommates

“It’s a whole other thing for it to be your own brother. Then it’s wrong,” he says simply, as if it’s obvious.

“But why?” I ask. “Same sex relationships don’t hurt anyone. What I’ve got makes me happy. Don’t you want that for me?”

“Sure, I want you to be happy. In a normal way. What am I supposed to tell anyone? That my big brother’s gay and he’s sleeping with two guys at the same time?” Eric makes a face. “It’s too weird. Two guys together is gross.”

He shudders. “It’s just wrong. Man and woman are supposed to be together. No one else. So for the last time. Are you going to come with me? Leave this lifestyle behind and live in a way that would have made our parents proud?”

“I couldn’t care less about anything our father would have to say. If Mom was around, I think she’d be just fine with it. I don’t know what’s going on with you, Eric. I always thought you were more open minded than this. What happened?”

He shrugs. “Nothing happened. It’s just that I know right from wrong. I don’t think you do. Not anymore.”

"Eric, I know it’s not easy to accept something that goes against what you might believe. Sometimes, you have to reconsider and really take a look at the reality of a situation. You know me. There’s nothing wrong with what I’m doing.”

“Hey.” A pair of arms wraps around me as someone comes up behind me. A pair of familiar lips kiss the base of my neck.

I tense up instantly. Christ. This isn’t the right time for Brad to get home. He senses my tension and straightens up, obviously catching sight of Eric for the first time.

“Oh, hey. Didn’t see you there, Eric.”

I can see the emotions warring on Eric’s face. He can’t help but automatically be happy to see Brad. Out of all my friends I’ve had over time, my brother’s always liked him best. Seeing Brad kissing me is shocking the living hell out of him.

“Brad,” Eric says stiffly as if he’s talking to a stranger. All my hopes of him coming around start to disintegrate. The look of revulsion on his face tells me otherwise. “I was just leaving,” he continues.

“No,” Brad says. “Stay. We haven’t hung out in a long time.”

“I don’t want to hang out with guys like you.”

“Eric, wait.” I can’t let him leave. “Don’t go. Stay for awhile, we can talk this out.”

He hesitates for a moment. “My offer stands, Tanner. If you come to your senses, let me know. Don’t wait too long.”

I slump down into the sofa after Eric slams the door behind him.

“What was that about?” Brad asks, draping his arm around my shoulders. I lean into him.

“My brother wants to man me up. Have me start working in construction and live with him, so he can save me from your bad influence.”

“Seriously? He said that? Eric?” Brad’s flabbergasted. “Eric, who’s always looked up to you?”

“And you.” I rub at my eyes. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He doesn’t want to see me anymore, not until I decide to live exactly how he thinks I should. This, from the boy who always used to come to me for advice.”

“He’ll come around,” Brad says, but his voice doesn’t carry its usual confidence.

“I hope so.” The image of Eric’s disgusted face comes back to haunt me. “But I don’t know.”

“If he doesn’t,” Brad begins, then trails off. I know what he’s thinking. I’ve had the same question since that night in the bar.

“I won’t walk away from anyone, no matter what. Not even for my little brother.” It hurts to even say those words, and Brad tightens his grip on me. I close my fingers around his arm.

“He shouldn’t be making you choose.”

“But he is.” I swallow hard. Eric and I have been through everything together and it’s killing me to turn away from him. I never thought it’d come to this with my own brother.

I turn to Brad. “I choose us.”

CHAPTER 31 KENNA

I’VE NEVER HAD such a knot of anxiety twisting me up at the thought of seeing my friends. I stayed up late last night scrolling through our group chat, scouring every single message.

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