Page 84 of Strange Lad

“Do you want me to be upset about it?”

Blowing a lock of curls away from my face, I chew my cheek. I wish I could talk to someone about it all—anyonewould do at this point.

Flicking my eyes up from my phone, I watch Phoenix intervene in the argument with Lex and Devon. They’re in the booth, hidden behind soundproof glass, so I can’t hear what’s said. Phoenix crosses his arms, puffs out his chest, and tries to calmly say something to Lex. Devon tugs at his hair, pointing an accusatory finger.

“Michael,” I say loudly to get his attention.

The longer strands of his blond hair hang in his eyes as he peers up at me. “It’s no use. Whatever this shit is between Devon and Lex needs to be handled by them, not us. Phoenix is wasting his breath.”

I blink, wondering where that came from, and shake my head. “Can I tell you something?”

He slides his pick between the strings along his fretboard, sets the guitar on its stand, and nods. “Sure.”

Kelly is still MIA at her great aunt’s, so I don’t have to worry about her overhearing. “I’m probably a little gay.”

Snorting, Michael comes and sits next to me. “You’ve always been a little gay.”

Appalled, I gape at him. “Excuse me?”

“Come on, dude. It’s not exactly a surprise here.”

“Seriously?”

“Yup,” he says, popping the P and cocks his head. “Wait, are you like…coming out to me? Shouldn’t you tell Phoenix?”

I slap my forehead. “I’m not coming out. It’s just I have this thing…with a man.”

“Feels like you’re coming out.”

“I’m not coming out!” I roar at the very moment Phoenix stalks out of the booth.

“Jorge is gay,” Michael points.

Phoenix’s eyebrow arches. “Huh?”

I want to slip off the couch and melt into the floor. “I’m notgay.I’m like…” I search for an accurate description. “I’m bisexual adjacent.”

Both of them stare at me before Phoenix laughs. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I’m bisexual, for one person. Duh,” I grumble, rolling my eyes, and then it dawns on me.

I fucked up.

Oh, Jesus.

My best friend of twenty-three years beams at me like it’s Christmas. Rushing over to the free cushion beside me, Phoenix plops down and grabs my face.

“That’s awesome!” he delights over me.

My heart bangs against my ribs because he’s going to ask…there’s no way he won’t.

“Who is it? Do we know them?”

“I, too, would like to know.”

Devon and Lex appear a beat later, red-faced and unwilling to look at each other. Lex sneers at me before leaving the studio, and Devon twists his thumb ring. “What’s happening?”

“Jorge came out,” Michael says, and Phoenix tags on, “he’s bi!”

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