Benson raises a brow. “Told you.”
“I’m not fucking gay,” I say.
Stanley grins. “No, you’re just stuck on one girl.”
I look at him.
His eyes light up. “She lives here now, bro. Don’t be afraid to break the house rules,” Stanley says. “Look at Reeve.”
Benson kisses the side of Lucy’s head.
I admit, “That’s not it.” It’s out of my mouth before I have decided to say it.
The table is quiet again.
I confess, “I’m too fucked up. She deserves better.”
The kitchen doesn’t move.
Benson is the first one to speak. “You’re not fucked up, man. What are you talking about?”
I shake my head. “She knows. I was a dick to her.”
Stanley shrugs. “Hey, some girls like that.”
I look at him.
“She came back to drop off your hoodie.”
I think about that. “Why would she do that?” I ask.
Stanley shrugs. “She cares.”
A pause.
“And she’s single, too.”
I run my hands through my hair. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Why?” Stanley asks. Now it’s him and me talking. He would be the one to push this.
“I have too much going on.”
He says, “We can help.”
“No.” I push back from the table. “Is the meeting over now?”
They stay quiet, so I take that as a yes. I stand up and push my chair in.
I look at each of them. Benson. Lucy. Rowan. Percy. Stanley. Then I walk to the archway and turn at the threshold.
“I don’t want any of you assholes scheming or plotting anything.”
They look up.
