Page 71 of Theoretically Straight

I’ll be right here if you need anything!

Theo

thanks. honestly, that’s all i need.

* * *

I hear Grace’s car pull into the driveway over my music, so I have time to brace myself. Harrison left about an hour ago, giving me some space to talk to Grace and promising not to tell Elise no matter how hard she pushes. Honestly, it could go either way, but I know Elise will act surprised even if Harrison slips.

There are approximately four minutes between the time Grace parks her car, walks inside, throws her weekend bag unceremoniously into her bedroom, and bangs on my bedroom door.

I’m laughing as I open the door, motioning for her to enter and quickly shutting the door behind her. I turn around to find her already sprawled out on my bed. She’s surprisingly in a sunshine-yellow crop top (Mom and Dad must not have seen her yet), ripped jean shorts, and her trusty Doc Marten boots. Her long, multi-colored hair is thrown back in a messy bun on top of her head. She looks exhausted, but her eyes are focused intensely on me.

“Okay, do you want me to give you my theories first, or are you ready to spill it now?”

I laugh nervously as I sit in my computer chair, spinning it around to face her. “You probably won’t be as far off as you think.”

“You’re in love.”

I blink, turning the word over in my head a few times before answering. “I…think it’s too soon to call it love, probably?”

“Is it Wren?”

“No.”

“Damn,” she swears quietly. “Harrison?”

I almost fall out of my chair. “Oh,God, no. Grace, come on.”

“I know, I know,” she grumbles. “Thought it would be exciting to get the gay theories out there first.”

I chew on my lower lip. “Well…”

She snaps her head up, her attention laser-focused on me. “Well?What do you mean‘well’?”

I shrug.

“So itissomething gay.”

“Kind of?”

“Okay, is Harrison gay?”

“No, you’re getting colder.”

“Ugh, okay, fine, I’m too impatient. Spill. Details. Gimme.”

“I like a boy,” I blurt out rather quickly.

Grace’s face lights up immediately, her eyes widening and a goofy grin taking over her entire face. “Ifuckingknew it! Yes!! I’m so proud of you! How long have you known?”

I let out a nervous laugh again. “Umm… Well, I just officially met him two Saturdays ago. We’ve been kind of flirting for two weeks, but I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing until Sunday, so when he tried to kiss me, I freaked out, but then we talked on Wednesday, and now I’m kind of slowly coming to terms with the fact that I’m not as straight as I thought I was.”

Her smile is genuine and excited, and it’s honestly contagious. “I’m so happy for you, Theo, truly I am. So…bisexual?”

“I guess? I haven’t put a label on it yet because this is really new and really terrifying, actually.”

Grace takes my hand in hers. “I know, bud. It’s okay. You can take all the time you need.”

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