I hold up what he got me, and my throat almost instantly chokes on the flood of emotion that rushes through me. It’s a ‘hello, my pronouns are they/them’ pin, with white gold surrounding the letters and omnisexual flag colors filling them in. He didn’t just encapsulate my gender; he included my sexuality in the pin as well. It’s the simplest thing, but the acceptance and support behind it is staggering.
“Qi, this is–” I barely breathe out, completely overwhelmed by the significance of the gift.
“Dumb, right. Totally dumb. You really don’t–” Qi starts rambling again, and I wish he’d have just a little bit more faith in himself sometimes.
“Stop making fun of my pin, dammit; it’s rude. I was actually thinking that in the history of baby brothers, you might be the best one anyone has ever had, and I’m really lucky that you’re mine. But don’t let that go to your head too much. You’re still a pain in the ass,” I tell him.
Qi lets out a laugh, and his cheeks darken. “Duly noted, and for the record. I feel the same about you, except, you know, older siblings, not younger ones.”
I snort and shake my head at that. I don’t know what’s showing on my face, though, because there’s suddenly a fierceness replacing the sweetness that was there just a moment ago.
“I mean it, Qiang. What happened at school says everything about that asshole and nothing about you. You didn’t do anything wrong except trust the wrong guy. Trust me, there’s someone out there who is going to show you how high above that douche canoe you always were.”
My heart cracks a little at that because I know he means it, but part of me still wants to defend Kingston. Even after what he’s done, and what his father has done, there’s a part of me that still misses him–stillloveshim.
People fail to mention that when the person you’re in love with turns out to be a complete and utter scumbag, the feelings you have for them don’t just magically go away. Learning that the person they really are is nowhere near the person they convinced you they were is like loving a ghost. The person you loved is dead–never even existed–but yet, you can still see them walking around, living, and breathing.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As soon as we get on the road, I’ll never have to look back and see that asshole again. I’m moving into a new future with new people and an authentic me. I’m keeping the best parts with me, and I’ll still have the only people who ever counted resiliently by my side and on my team.
But the future is only going to get better from here. Ithasto, because I don’t know if I can handle it getting any worse. I’m still barely surviving this.
A PUNCH IN THE GUT LUNCH
Marcus’s POV
I’ve always been an ardent admirer of beauty. Whether that beauty is found in people or things doesn’t matter. But when it comes to pretty people, I’ve rarely had a difficult time getting them to let me appreciate them as intimately as I want, and the few times I’ve been told no, it’s never been something I got hung up on. Just move on and fixate on the next pretty person. No hard feelings, no second guesses, no regrets or foolish pining.
But it’s rare. Most of the time, I get my way, and when I’ve had my fill, I send them on their way. Everyone knows the stakes and chooses to play the game. Some try to change the rules, but I’m a stickler for them. One night, no repeats, no feelings. It’s fortheirsafety, not mine. While my dick is all for the game, my heart is not. My heart is married to the football field. I don’t have time to step out and have my attention divided.
The only reason all of that is sitting at the forefront of my mind right now is because the person in front of me is probably the prettiest person I’ve ever seen in my life.
For whatever reason, when Qi said ‘older’ sibling, I automatically assumed ‘bigger’, which is one of the most illogicalassumptions I’ve made in a while. In all fairness, the assumption didn't come just from the ‘older’ part; it also came from the way Qi talks about them, as if they're ten feet tall and bulletproof.
Still don't know why I automatically assumed that would have any impact on their physical stature. It's not like it's the first time I've met an immensely strong person who was on the smaller-statured side. And it’s proving how ridiculous the assumption was because Qiang is the exact opposite of everything I imagined they would be.
Qi is tall and fit. Thin, but with a firm layer of muscle and meat. Qiang is about five-five, barely even comes to Qi’s chin, and they’re lithe. All sleek lines and grace, without a trace of meat on their bones.
They have long hair that’s pulled back into a high pony, revealing a buzzed undercut underneath. The pony pulls slightly at their eyes, giving them a cat’s eye look that’s only exacerbated by their winged eyeliner. The eyeliner and the light shimmer they added to their lids warm their chestnut eyes with a mesmerizing hint of allure. The blush on their cheeks adds a rosy tint while highlighting the cut of their cheekbones, and their pink lips are glossy, adding to their plush, seductive appeal.
Easily one of the prettiest faces I’ve ever seen in my life, and, like a kick to the nuts, there’s a neon ‘off-limits’ sign flashing over their head. It keeps reminding me that no matter how much they draw me in, no matter how the ropes of control I have over myself fray dangerously every time our eyes meet, I cannot play with this one at all,ever.
This entire lunch is about Qiang and me meeting. Tristan’s and my parents bought a house off-campus to live in, but then Darryl got accepted to his dream university, and he’s leaving us while Tristan is having Qi move into the finished basement with him. Tristan and Qi are hoping Qiang and I will get along well enough for Qiang to take the rooms Darryl wassupposedto take.
Qi is Tristan’s boyfriend, and I know that Qiang moving in with us is important to him. And since what is important to Qi is important to Tristan, and Tristan has been my best bro since our freshman year of high school, what’s important to him is important to me, too.
Qi is a really awesome guy though too, so it would have beenimportant to me anyway. Pretty fucking stoked that Tristan found someone who fits him. Tristan has never shown a preference for anyone before, and then he runs into this Qi guy, and he’s been a goner ever since.
It was worrisome at first because I’ve seen a lot of people try to take advantage of Tristan. Between his face, his money, his domination on the football field, and his impeccable reputation, he was one of the most coveted guys in our school. I was worried that Qi would be like that too, but it only took kidnapping him once and driving him the hour it takes to get from his place to Tristan’s place to know that he’s on the level.
And he’s pretty, too. Qi would have definitely caught my eye if it weren’t for knowing he was Tristan’s heart. But of course, I would never betray Tristan that way. Not that I’d have a chance anyway. Tristan and Qi just resolidified my belief in soulmates.
My parents were my first lesson in soulmates, and then when we met Tristan’s parents, it taught me how the concept can look different for different people. But Qi and Tristan are just as solid—couple goals through and through.
But most of that isn’t completely registering in my brain right now because it’s predominantly tripping over the fact that Qiang issopretty; it’s leaving me more than a bit breathless.
“Dude, you didn’t tell us your sibling was hot!” Darryl’s whistle of approval has something possessive coiling through me, which is even more unsettling than the daze Qiang has me in.
Darryl and I have never squabbled over who we hit on or sleep with. Hell, we’ve even been known to share in the past. Not something we’ve done often because even though we’re both pretty adventurous, we aren’t actually attracted to each other. Even though we’re both into all genders and have shared our partners, it’s never been an ‘our swords crossing’ type of sharing. Although in scenarios like that, sometimes they touch–it just happens. The more bodies thrown in at once, the more confusing it is to determine which parts belong to whom.
