Page 33 of Hold Your Breath

“I didn’t know Micah would bring his friends with him, and once they saved me, they invited me out for drinks. The rest is history.”

Angie nods and moves on. “And what about you two? Where are your girlfriends?”

Micah looks at Willow and she nods. “About that, everyone needs to listen up, as I plan to say this once and once only. I didn’t plan for this to happen today, but since everyone is here, I will get it over with. Angie asked where my girlfriend is, and it’s complicated, because we are all together.”

The table is stunned silent until Angie laughs. “Good one!”

“It’s no joke,” I snap at the awful woman. “Micah, Jace, and I have been in a relationship for a couple of years, and recently Willow has agreed to date us as well.”

All hell breaks loose at the table. Everyone talks at the same time, and I think someone might even be crying, but I can’t be sure. A loud bang has everyone instantly going quiet and turning to where Micah’s father stands.

“The words coming from some of you who call yourselves our family are disgusting. My son’s life choices do not change the fact that this is his house, and you will not treat my son or his life partners with disrespect. If any of you have an issue, then you are free to leave.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Micah says, and his father narrows his eyes.

“You four, meet me in the kitchen now!”

We all stand, along with Carol, and head inside. I intertwine my fingers with Willow’s and grip her sweaty palm.

“Don’t worry,” I whisper. “We have your back.”

She nods, and once we are in the kitchen, the four of us stand side by side as Micah’s father stares us down. I can see where Micah gets his size and intimidating demeanor from.

“I’m disappointed in you, son—” He holds up his hand when Jace opens his mouth. “Let me finish. I’m disappointed that you hid this from us for years. While I might not understand your lifestyle, you are my son. I want you to be happy, and if these men make you happy, that is all I want for you. As for this development with Willow, I would be lying if I said I didn’t see it coming.”

“They all make me happy, and I’m sorry. I suppose I struggled with coming to terms with my family knowing I’m bisexual.”

His father slightly cringes at the word, and to be honest, the man has taken it way better than Micah predicted. The wild card now is Carol.

“My only question is, will I get grandbabies?”

All four of us laugh. Willow’s grip on my hand loosens. “It’s only new, but if we all get our way, you will have an entire football team.”

Carol claps her hands. I can tell they are not one hundred percent on board with it, but right here is what family is really about—they will have your back no matter what. Even if they don’t understand it, they can still respect your choices.

“Now let’s go back out there and see who is left. Maybe we have weeded out the assholes.”

“Tom,” Carol says, “Watch your language. That’s our family.”

“Don’t act surprised—your sister is the biggest asshole out there. I only wish you had the balls to stand up to her. The way she throws comments at Willow makes me want to strangle her sometimes. I have spent years intercepting that woman, so she leaves Willow alone.”

The way Willow’s hand squeezes mine tells me she didn’t know. She releases my hand and walks over to Tom.

“Thank you,” she says, wrapping her arms around the older man. “I thought everyone felt the way she did about me.”

Tom pulls back and looks down at her. “Never. You are the best daughter I could have asked for.”

“Okay, enough of this. We will ruin our makeup. Tom is right, though. My sister is an asshole, and I’m going to tell her right now.”

Carol takes off before anyone can sayanything, and for a tiny little woman, she’s fast. We all rush to keep up, and once we’ve gotten back to the garden, Carol has already rounded up all of Angie’s children.

“You’re all disgusting,” she snaps. Then Carol marches straight up to her sister and slaps her across the face. Everyone at the table snickers.

“You slapped me!” Angie gasps.

“You bet your ass I did. I have let you treat my daughter poorly all these years to keep the peace. I thought your little digs wouldn’t bother her, but now I can see you are the problem, so you need to leave.”

“You would kick out your own flesh and blood and let them parade that lifestyle around like the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman means nothing?!”

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