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“Yeah, but you're his dad. As much as parents wish their kids would talk to them about everything, sometimes there’s things we just don’t feel comfortable talking to you about. I got this, okay? Trust me.”
He looks torn, but after a moment he sighs and nods his head.
I take off up the stairs and knock on Bennett’s door. “Hey, Benny, it’s me.”
“Come in,” he mutters.
Opening the door, I find him curled up on his bed, hugging his pillow. “Sorry, the boys can suck sometimes.”
He huffs. “All the time.”
I grin, taking a seat next to him on his bed. “Wanna talk about it?”
“No,” he murmurs, then sighs again. “I messed everything up, Lilly.”
“What do you mean?” I reach over and brush some of his brown hair from his forehead. Out of all my brothers, Bennett and I have always been closest. From the moment he was born, I was always there whenever I could be, next to my parents as I tried to help or hold him when I could. Being five when he was born meant I couldn’t do much with him at the time, but I enjoyed just being around him.
“I kissed him,” he admits in a small voice, tears filling his eyes. “And now he won't talk to me.”
“Easton?” Easton is his best friend, someone he’s known his whole life. When Bennett was ten, he told me he had his first crush. I was expecting it to be one of the little girls in his class, but then he told me it was a guy, his best friend.
The best thing about growing up in this family is we’ve never been afraid to express our sexuality. With three of our parents being bisexual and one a lesbian, it was just a part of our lives.
That's why when I started being attracted to girls, I didn’t worry, didn’t freak. I’ve never dated one but I’m not opposed to it. The person I want just so happens to be a guy. But if I met a girl I liked enough to pursue, I would without hesitation.
Bennett nods. “I thought he liked me. But... I thought wrong. And now he hates me. When I went to talk to him the next day at his locker, he told me that he wasn’t a—” tears spill from his eyes, “a faggot.”
My brows jump and my lips part. “What?” I hiss, anger boiling within me. “That little fucking shithead. Who even uses that kind of hurtful slur anymore?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry he’s being like this. Sometimes people don’t know how to deal with their emotions.”
“I don’t get it. He seemed fine seeing our dads together around the house. Never acted weird when he saw them kiss. So why would he use such a nasty word?”
“I don’t know, Benny. But I want you to know that there’s nothing wrong with liking boys, okay?”
“I know.” He nods, wiping at his eyes.
“Have you thought about talking to our dads about it?”
He shakes his head. “I will. Just... not right now. I’m not ready.”
“What about Mom?”
He shrugs. “She knows. I told her when I stupidly got excited, thinking that Easton might like me back. Now I look like an idiot.”
“You're not an idiot. And if Easton can’t see how amazing you are, then it’s his loss. And if he’s not into guys, then that's fine too. But he really didn’t have the right to act the way he did. He’s your best friend, and best friends don’t treat each other like shit.”
“Your best friend did,” he murmurs, eyes growing dark.
Bennett and Toby’s relationship hasn’t been the same since Toby started distancing himself from me. Bennett was just as close with Toby as he is with me, so seeing him treat his big sister like she was nothing... well, let’s just say Bennett is a lot like our dad. He doesn’t tolerate others treating the people he loves badly.
I sigh and flop down on the bed next to him, rolling to my side so I can look him in the face. “It’s complicated. Toby and I, our relationship isn’t like most.”
“Can I ask you something? And I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
“Sure.” I nod.
“Do you like... do you like Toby, as more than a friend?”
I blink a few times, the question taking me by surprise as I try to think of what to say. “Of course. He’s our brother.”
