Page 29 of The Pretender
“Bathroom.”
We both hop up and hurry to the bathroom, cleaning ourselves up quickly. Once we look decent, Deo returns to the living room and opens the door.
The person standing in the doorway, leaning against the porch column with an amused grin on their face, is not at all who I expected to see. They’re wearing torn jeans and a crop top, with heavy boots and what looks like a faux fur coat since it’s bright yellow. Their black hair is very short in the front, but very long in the back, and the tips are blue. They have numerous facial andear piercings, but despite all of that, I can see the resemblance to Deo.
“Brogan.” Deo holds his arms out to hug his cousin. “Come in.”
“Heard you had a guy here.” Brogan glances at me with amused interest. “I think you left a few things out the last time we talked.” Brogan smacks Deo’s arm. “Dude, the fuck? You moved home and got a man and I’ve heard crickets about this?”
“Sorry,” Deo says. “Both happened quickly. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure.”
“About which part?”
“Both. Do you want to meet him or stand here and give me shit?”
“Of course I want to meet him,” Brogan says, dramatically pushing past Deo. Brogan extends their arm, offering me their hand. “Brogan Benedetti. They/them pronouns but the occasional he/him won’t kill me. Trans man but androgynous as fuck. Deo’s favorite cousin. You are?”
Amused, I shake Brogan’s hand. “Balt Cassiano. He/him. Deo’s… man.”
Brogan nods, clearly taking me in from head to toe. I’m expecting another question, but instead, Brogan swings around to Deo.
“Not at all what I was expecting when Nonna told me about him, but good on you.”
“What were you expecting?” I ask, enjoying this person’s energy.
“Younger. More academic. Nerdier, for sure.”
“Hey,” Deo complains, shoving Brogan’s arm. “I can snag a baddie.”
“Obviously. Welcome to the Grove,” Brogan says to me.
“Thank you.”
“We obviously have a lot to catch up on,” Brogan says to Deo, glancing at me with a wink. “How long are you staying? Your mom said you’re not leaving, but I don’t believe her.”
“It’s true,” Deo says. “I came home for good.”
Brogan looks truly scandalized as they clutch their chest dramatically. “I never thought I’d see the day. What will Nantes and Giulio have to say?”
“Who cares,” Deo mumbles. “They’ve made their choices and I’ve made mine.”
“Are you staying too?” Brogan asks me.
Before I can say anything, Deo tsks at his cousin. “Quit being nosy.”
“As if that’s possible.” Brogan laughs softly. “We are Benedettis, you know.”
“Try.” Deo begins pushing his cousin towards the door. “I’ll see you at dinner and we’ll catch up soon.”
“Toodles.” Brogan waves at me over their shoulder before stepping outside.
Deo follows his cousin, leaving me alone with my guilt-ridden thoughts. I definitely should have thought this out. Maybe a short-term rental would’ve been a better idea, but the thought of hiding out at a family home with a delectable man overruled reason. Whatever I do, I have to make sure Deo doesn’t get hurt or embarrassed in all of this.
He comes back in, smiling shyly. “Sorry about that.”
“No reason to be sorry. Everything okay?”
Deo nods. “They had to tease me that it smelled like sex in here.”
