Page 77 of A Minute More

“Hey there, Paulie.”

He grins and then flicks my ear. “Shut the fuck up. Who’s this?”

Both of their eyes swivel to Simon, and before I can get a word out in explanation, my mom and sister fly out the door, followed by my aunts and uncles and the rest of my cousins. It’s a zoo. I swear to god, this is overwhelming, even for me. I can’t imagine what Simon feels like, being swarmed by these people he doesn’t know. He grew up without parents, with only his grandmother to look out for him. I doubt that he’s ever been in a situation like this in his life.

Before I can reassure him, I’m passed around, squeezed to death, and then finally when I can breathe, I see Simon’s in the same situation. Hugged and shaken and kissed.

He looks shocked and confused, but doesn’t run. Thank fuck, he hasn’t bolted.

“So who is this? A friend?” my mom asks and everyone stops and looks. I swear they’ve never been so quiet in my life. Even the music in the background is muted.

“Um,” I wet my lips, my heart thundering. Fuck, I was so confident earlier, and now I don’t know what to say. Simon glances over at me, panic in his eyes. Panic for me? I’m not sure. Or perhaps he’s upset that I’m blundering this so badly.

“He’s a guy.”

“We see that,” Jimmy says and strokes his beard.

“We’re friends,” Simon says, his voice soft and yet assured. “Just friends.”

I swallow, feeling guilt sneak up on me, and I shake my head, feeling like shit. This is not how I wanted it to go. This is not what he deserves.

“No, we aren’t,” I blurt. “We aren’t just friends.”

Everyone’s eyes swivel to mine, and I feel my cheeks heat. “Fuck.”

Simon looks like he wants to melt into the ground, so I reach out to him and grab on to his hand, pulling him into me and kissing him gently on the lips. We haven’t discussed what we are…haven’t labeled this, so I don’t know what else to say. So I show them instead.

My mom gasps, and then I hear a slow clap from someone in the background.

“Didn’t know Wes was gay. Did you?” one of my uncles asks, and my aunt smacks him across the back of the head.

When my eyes swivel around to find my mom and sister, both are beaming.

“You must be special,” my sister chirps as my mom rushes up, pulling Simon and me into a hug.

“I’m so glad you brought your boyfriend home. God, I am just so damn happy. I had no idea he was into guys, but it makes total sense now. Oh my god…come on, let’s celebrate! This is just amazing.”

Simon glances at me as we all shuffle inside, the smell of barbecue from the backyard wafting toward us.

“I’m sorry…I didn’t know what to call you,” I whisper and Simon nods, not answering me. I was hoping he’d tell me something I’d like to hear. Like the word boyfriend would have been okay, but then again, he’s leaving for college soon. Maybe that’s not what he wants. Maybe I’m not what he wants.

But then a memory of him beneath me, chanting my name filters through my head, and I push those negative thoughts aside.

No way. He wants me. He can’t hide how I make him feel.

We need to talk and soon, but we can’t do that here. Not until tonight when we’re alone and tucked into bed.

“Want something to eat? We have ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs…” my mom says.

“Oh, umm,” Simon stutters, and I squeeze his hand.

“Simon doesn’t eat that stuff.”

“I can. It’s fine. I don’t need—”

My mom claps her hands, interrupting him. “Do you eat chicken? Or are you a vegetarian?”

“Chicken is fine,” Simon says, and my mom shouts at her brother, telling him to grab a chicken breast from the freezer.

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