Page 136 of Stepbrothers with Benefits
“That’s not very helpful, Eli,” Marty said, narrowing her eyes. “I want to know what is going on to make the two of you act so strangely.”
“We’re working our way to that,” I assured her softly, knowing she wasn’t being nosy, but was deeply concerned and trying to understand. “But you have to give us a minute because it’s not a small thing.”
“Clearly,” she said. “And what’s this ‘we’, because as far as I can tell, Milo has hardly said a thing the whole time we’ve been here, and you’re doing all the?—”
Milo’s head jerked up so sharply I jumped. “Eli and I started sleeping together weeks ago, despite the fact that he’s…straight, and we’re stepbrothers. It was just sex at first, really, really good sex that I never want to give up, but it was always going to be more for me because I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with him since I was fourteen. I kept it quiet because it felt weird and wrong. Except it hasn’t been weird or wrong at all, it’s been the greatest thing to happen to me. I want to have him in mylife for the rest of our lives in every way I can, at my side, as my friend, in my bed, and yeah, maybe get married one day if I can convince him to do that, despite how weird that would be because our parents are already married and that has a lot of weird implications. And I disappeared because I panicked. Someone put our private business online to make us look like degenerates, and I’m pretty sure it’s the asshole we told to fuck off because he was being a pig. So I freaked out about everyone knowing before we could tell everyone, and I abandoned Eli. I’m sorry I worried you guys, but goddamn, can’t a guy have a meltdown in peace? It was Eli I hurt doing that. I hurt the man I love and wholoves me back, and all because I freaked out and didn’t make the right choice. Are you happy now, Mom? Are you? Are. You?”
Marty wasn’t the only one staring at Milo in complete shock. Every head at the table, mine included, stared at him, mouths open, long enough that a fly could have flown in. Even those I was damn sure had already known the truth about us were staring at him in shock, the funniest being Mason, who was generally the one saying things that made people gape at him. But even Arlo, who was usually soweirdlyunflappable, was gaping at Milo.
“Well,” Marshall said after clearing his throat and picking up his glass. “I think that covers the basics...and then some.”
“Oh God,” Milo groaned, dropping his face into his hands and giving a soft whimper.
“Was it really necessary to mention how good the sex is?” I asked him in a quiet voice, I hoped didn’t carry across the table.
Dad grunted. “I could have done without that detail myself.”
Not as quiet as I’d hoped. then
“Wow,” Mason said with a little laugh. “You guys really don’t know how to be normal, do you?”
“Mason,” I said in a soft voice. “Maybe the person who spent the first few months of his relationship with Jaceliterallybeating each other like it was a form of fucked up foreplay shouldn’t be the one to talk shit. And yes, I know about that. Weallknew about that when we looked back and did the math after you two announced you were together...sorry, Jace.”
Jace scowled at the tablecloth. “If shutting Mason up with the truth means I have to be a casualty, I’ll take it.”
“Yes, shutup, Mason,” Moira breathed.
“Alright, fuck all of you then,” Mason said with an indignant huff. “God forbid someone tries to lighten the mood.”
“There’s a time and place,” Arlo said softly, grabbing his drink.
It wasn’t quite a rebuke, but it was a sign that Arlo agreed with the consensus that Mason should shut his mouth. Jace even grabbed Mason’s upper arm, drawing him close and muttering something I couldn’t make out. Mason’s mouth turned into a grimace, but whatever Jace said had him leaning back in his chair, looking sullen...and a little guilty. Jace shot me a look that was hard to read, but I thought it might be apologetic, and I shrugged. Everyone knew there was no controlling Mason, but even getting him to back off like that was a feat Jace should be proud of.
However, Marty was still staring at the two of us, completely frozen as she gripped her glass. She either wasn’t aware of the side argument or chose to ignore it as she took in the news that Milo had blurted...more like vomited. If it weren’t for the fact that it would encourage Mason, I would have eventually been struck with laughter. The sheer rawness and unnecessary detail from Milo had been sweet and hilarious. I knew, of course, that he had every intention of making sure we spent our lives together, but it was still nice to have him say it openly to thefamily when we were bringing them potentially earth-shattering news.
“So,” Marty said, clearing her throat, quickly taking a drink, wiping her mouth, and setting the glass down a little roughly. “Let me get this...straight.” She glanced at Mason, who gave her an eye roll and mimed his mouth being zipped shut before she continued. “You and Eli have been having relations...for a little while...recently.”
“Yes,” I answered as Milo still refused to raise his head and look at anyone.
Marty stared at Milo, probably realizing, like I had, that Milo would be out of commission for a while, and turned her attention to me. “Okay. You...you’re bi now?”
“I don’t...know,” I began, uncomfortable at the question. “I don’t know what that has to do with anything.”
“Just...trying to make sure this isn’t like...some early twenties experimentation, that it’s actually...sticking around,” she said slowly.
“Jace?” I asked with a sigh.
“Uh...what?”
“You were ‘straight’ when you met Mason, right?”
“Umm.”
“And then even as time went on, even now, you didn’t stop and realize it was just an experiment, right?”
“Y-yes,” he said, and I felt a flash of guilt at putting him on the spot without thinking. Jace had gotten much better about stuff like that, even admitting he was in a relationship with Mason. He still struggled to admit he was anything but straight, though, the product of some wound or wounds I’d never asked about. “But...I’m bi. I think that’s what she’s asking...and you said you didn’t know.”
“That’s a good point,” I said with a grimace and then looked back at Marty. “I don’t know what you want me to say here. Doyouwantme to admit I’m...turned on by Milo? That even at this moment, I’m sexually attracted to him? Do I need to explain in detail what I want to do?”
