“Jesus fucking Christ, Miles.” I clenched my fist and took a breath. “And the wedding party, too?”
He squeezed his eyes tight and swung his head away. Then nodded.
“That’s so fucked up, man. Why? Why would you do that?”
Miles lifted his bloodshot, glassy eyes to meet mine. “Ididn’t.” His throat sounded like it was closing. “Bree assumed you were the best man, and when I told her it was Ryder, she got upset…” Miles swallowed. “Then she said the wedding would be off if he was in the party at all, that she couldn’t subject her family and friends, or followers, to that.”
I loved him like a brother. He knew every part of me, except one, though he knew that too. Miles was there for me, for everything, as I was there for him. But in that moment, the only thing left was disgust.
“How could you let her do that? You should’ve heard what she was saying about your brother in the car. She’s a fucking bigot.” Light from the house caught flecks of spit leaving my mouth. “And now you are, too.”
His face contorted as the tears finally fell. “Don’t say that! I’m not. I love my brother!”
“That’s not love, bro. You don’t treat people you love like that. Do you have any idea what he’s been going through? Or what it’s been like for him?”
Miles held his face, elbows on his knees. He didn’t make much sound, but it was clear he was crying. “Fuck, man.Fuck. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. He didn’t seem that mad. I want my fucking brother standing next to me, man. No offense. That’swhyI called you my number one male.He’smy best man. I fucking love him, why can’t he see that?Why can’t he just understand how hard this is on me?”
“How hard it is onyou?”
His face was a mess. “Yeah, man. It is. My family is so pissed at me, she’s so pissed at me. I just can’t seem to get a fucking break!” He scrunched up tight. “And where was he tonight? Huh? Couldn’t even show up to support me.”
“Supportyou? I—”
“What’s going on out here, boys?” I hadn’t heard Mr. Beckett come outside, and his sudden presence startled me.
“Yeah, Dad. We’re good,” Miles said, wiping his eyes on his forearm. “Just some pre-wedding jitters.” He tried to laugh.
“Miles, I heard what you were saying.” Mr. Beckett said. “Is that true? You told me Ryder was too busy.”
I couldn’t place the look on Mr. Beckett's face, which was already in shadow with his back to the house. But his voice was tight and controlled.
“It...fuckman,” Miles said, openly crying. “She just has more traditional views. That doesn’t mean I don’t love him. That doesn't mean I don’t want him in my life. So what if she has a different opinion, right? What’s the big deal?”
It didn’t matter how dark it was, or where the shadows fell, his clipped voice shone through. “I raised you better than that.”
“Hank? Are you out there?” his wife said, walking outside with Lena. “Have you heard—Oh! I didn’t see you, boys. Is… is everything okay?”
Mr. Beckett kept his eyes on his son while his jaw flexed. Before his wife could ask again, he turned to her and said, “Miles removed Ryder from the wedding because he’s gay, at Bree’s request.”
“What?” Mrs. Beckett asked.
“Are youfuckingkidding me?” Lena said. “I fucking knew it. Ifuckingknew it! I can’t believe you, you fucking piece of shit.”
Mrs. Beckett said, “Lena, please.” Her daughter quieted, but folded her arms, shifting her weight from side to side. “What’s going on? Who said that?”
“Go on, Finn, tell her what you told Miles,” Mr. Beckett said.
Miles and I shared a look. There was a plea in his eyes, but it wasn’t to lie. Maybe it was to understand him or give him a break. Fuck that bullshit.
I turned to Mrs. Beckett. “Bree told me she forced Miles to remove Ryder from the wedding because he’s gay.” I glared at him. “She also called him a sissy bitch, said you were all heathens, called her fiancé a whiny little bitch with no spine, and all but hit on me at the bar tonight.”
There was no point in expressing my anger at Bree. Giving Miles an ounce of it was better, but also deeply shitty. Miles closed his eyes as his chin quivered. I hated doing that to him.
Lena said, “Thatfucking—”
“Lena! Enough,” her dad said. “She told you that? All of it?”
I nodded. “Yes. It was… hard to hear.”
