Page 76 of Ache for You (Slow Burn 3)
I do know. Once over brunch Senator Wingate lectured me for twenty minutes about the evils of “progressives” and their “backward” ideas about marriage. I think he’s still bitter women got the vote.
“There are plenty of people with judgmental assholes for parents who don’t go to the trouble of ruining an innocent person’s life because they’re too scared to stand up to Mommy and Daddy and live the life they really want.”
He whispers, “I know.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why am I listening to this? “If you really want to make it up to me, come out to your parents.”
His silence is horrified. “No . . . no, what I’m saying—”
“I hear what you’re saying. You need to hear what I’m saying: It’s not gonna happen. I’m not gonna be your beard. I need love, Brad. Real love. A life to share and a strong shoulder to lean on, someone to build a future with. Have a family with. Grow old with. I wanted all that with you but you robbed me. And the really shitty part, the thing I just can’t get over, is that you made me believe you wanted it all, too.” My voice breaks. “You made me believe you loved me as much as I loved you.”
“I do love you,” he says urgently. “I swear I do.”
“Even if you do, it’s not the same and you know it.”
We’re silent for a while. I lie back down and close my eyes. I want to hang up, but I know we need to hash this out or he’ll just keep badgering me. Like another irritating person I know, he isn’t used to being told no.
“So who’s the hottie?”
“What?”
“The dark-haired guy you were with yesterday with the amazing blue eyes who looks like a supermodel assassin.”
One of the things I’d often overlooked in my mad scramble toward happily ever after is Brad’s crippling lack of emotional intelligence. I know he’s not deliberately trying to be hurtful, just as I know he needs an explanation to understand exactly why he is.
“Give me a break! You only told me yesterday that you’re gay! We’re not at the point where we’re going to start talking about how hot other guys are!”
“Right. Sorry.” He pauses for no more than three seconds before saying, “But who is he?”
So much for the explanation. “Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s my stepbrother.”
“Is he single?”
“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that, you moron.”
“It’s just that he’s probably the best-looking man I’ve ever seen. And so intense.” He exhales a quiet breath. “You have no idea how good it feels to be able to say that out loud.”
I clap a hand over my eyes and kick my heels against the mattress. “Can we please be done sharing?”
“Hold on—stepbrother? Your dad remarried?”
“Oh ho! Welcome to the conversation! Jesus, it’s like you have selective hearing. Yes, he remarried.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know. From what I’m told, it was all hush-hush because my father didn’t want to take any attention away from our wedding. He was planning on telling me after we got back from the honeymoon.”
“That makes no sense whatsoever.”
“Finally something on which we agree.”
What sounds like the tearing of a plastic bag comes over the line, followed by the sound of crunching. Apparently Brad has decided it’s time for a snack.
“So what’s his wife like?”
“If Nurse Ratched and the iceberg that sank the Titanic had a love child, it would be her. She was the blonde yesterday who said you should be shot.”
“Yikes. I’m surprised your dad would’ve married someone like that. He seemed so nice.”
