Page 27 of Pieces of Me

“C’mon, we’ll give you a ride,” he called, and Rylan loped gratefully over, climbing into the backseat and trying to ignore Lisa’s obvious pout at having her time with Scott interrupted.

“Thanks, guys,” he said and settled down in the cramped backseat. “I was dreading the bus.”

As they drove, Rylan lifted his face into the humid breeze, enjoying his first-ever ride in a convertible. Scott and Lisa chatted, and Rylan contemplated their profiles. Both were perfect, both stunning. For sheer aesthetic appeal, these two belonged together.

The trip was short and sweet, and soon Lisa eased to a stop in front of their trailer. Rylan got out with murmured thanks and patted Scott’s shoulder as he did so.

“Appreciate you sticking up for me today,” he said quietly. “That was awesome.”

Scott winked at him in response, and Lisa pulled away with a small spray of gravel, leaving Rylan standing there alone.

✩✩✩

“So when are you going to forgive Steve?” Lisa demanded, drawing Scott’s attention away from watching Rylan disappear into the distance behind them.

“What?”

“Steve,” she repeated, impatience in her voice. “He was crushed by what you did today, saying he couldn’t sit with us.”

“Good. I don’t need no fuckin’ bullies sitting at my table.”

“He’s not a bully, though,” Lisa insisted. “He was going over to defend a friend.”

“Defend him. Against what? Rylan’s lunch?” Scott’s tone was flat. “Throwin’ his food to the floor, about to punch him. It looked to me like four ganging up on one, which isn’t ‘defending,’ it’s bullying.”

“Well, maybe ‘defend’ is the wrong word,” she allowed reluctantly. “Maybe ‘stand up for themselves’ would be a better choice of phrase.”

“And maybe I’m a dumb redneck, ’cause I don’t know what you’re getting at, Lisa.”

She sighed, pulling the car over and turning to look at him. “I know Rylan’s your stepbrother, but he’s…gay.”

Scott pushed his dark glasses to the top of his head. “A fact I’m well aware of. Can’t really miss it.”

“I know. That hair, those earrings―” She gave a delicate shudder. “The way he walks and talks. He’s so over-the-top, baby. Maybe if he didn’t flaunt it quite so much, the guys wouldn’t be so uncomfortable with it. No one wants to see that shoved in their face.”

“See what, exactly?” Scott asked. “A guy livin’ true to who he is, expressing himself the way he damn well pleases? It’s hair dye. He’s not walkin’ around with his cock out, askin’ dudes to bend over.”

Lisa bit her lip. “It’s just―the guys don’t like having him shower with them after gym class. And he should respect that, not force his sexuality on other boys. They were trying to let him know that. Standing up for themselves.”

“And how is showering after a hot and sweaty gym class forcing his sexuality on anyone?” Scott could hear the incredulity in his own voice, and he angled in his seat to face Lisa fully.

She flapped her hand at him and started to put the car in gear, and he grabbed her arm to stop her. “I really wanna hear this. Tell me how simply takin’ a shower at school is forcing his gayness on these guys.”

“Because it makes them uncomfortable!” Lisa retorted. “And it makes them think about stuff that grosses them out. He shouldn’t be allowed to shower with them. Period. For everyone’s sake.”

Scott snorted. “That’s fuckin’ stupid, Lisa. And ignorant.”

She leaned toward him, her eyes speculative. “I’m surprised you’re okay with it, baby. You’re so much a man.” She reached out and trailed her finger down his chest. “A hot and sexy man. Having a flaming gay living with you doesn’t bother you? Knowing he’s looking at you in a sexual way?”

Scott flipped his sunglasses back down over his eyes and faced forward. “He ain’t never tried nothin.’ He’s not like that, Lisa. Not at all. He’s a guy tryin’ to get through life as best he can, and he has a right to get clean after gym just like everyone else. I’d better not catch those idiots at school givin’ Rylan any more shit, so if they say anythin’ more to you, make sure they know that.”

Lisa didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled away from the curb and accelerated down the street.

He ain’t never tried nothin’.

No, he hadn’t. Because, damn it all, Scott was the one trying things, initiating things. Wonder what Steve would think of that? He laughed to himself, ignoring Lisa’s curious glance.

CHAPTER 7