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“Nothing, calm down.” Lance hides his nerves with agitation. He brings his palm to the back of his neck and puffs out a breath. “Um, Hayden and I…Well, we’re…I mean…eurgh. God, why is this so difficult?”
Brent leans down to rest his forearms on the marble surface and fixes a sincere gaze onto Lance. “Cous, whatever you’ve got to say is okay, just tell me what’s on your mind.”
Fuck. I love Brent. I mean, not like that, but the guy really does break macho stereotypes. I briefly feel guilty for ever doubting he will take this anything but well.
Lance nods, takes a breath and looks his cousin in the eye. “Hayden and I are together, we’re a…a couple. I’m bisexual.”
Silence.
Brent’s brows are pull so tightly together I imagine it’s giving him a headache. He stands straight, looks at me and then back to Lance. He opens his mouth as if to say something and then closes it again.
Silence.
“I don’t understand,” he finally says.
“Look,” Lance says softly. “I know this must be a bit of a shock…”
“You think it’s a shock that you and Hayden are fucking?” Brent says, still confused. “What I’m shocked about is that you seem to think I didn’t know that!”
I bark out a laugh and Lance just gapes.
“I’ve lived with you two for six years, you think I haven’t noticed?” Brent’s confusion morphs into amusement as he takes in his cousin’s shock at this revelation.
“I…we…”
“You’re not obvious about it, but you’re not all that subtle either. If I hadn’t known before, it would have been pretty obvious when the couch hasn’t been slept on since Elle got here. Hayden sure as fuck has not been sleeping in my bed. Why do you think I’m always ‘giving you some privacy’?”
“Well, this conversation sure as fuck hasn’t gone how I was expecting,” Lance chuckles.
I stand just behind my…boyfriend? And put a hand on his hip in silent support. He looks back at me and smiles. A wordless conversation ensues as he tells me how happy he is that this moment is over, and I tell him that he did well.
“Regardless, I’m happy for you. Congratulations.” Brent does seem happy and I know it’s because he thinks this news means Elle is off the table for us.
“Thanks, cousin.” Lance turns his smile back to the other side of the counter. “Oh, and one more thing, we are going to ask Elle to be with us too.”
Brent tenses.
“I know she’s not your favourite person…”
Brent drops his head between his shoulders and sighs. I squeeze Lance again as a warning to go easy with this conversation.
“…but she’s important to Hayden and me.”
“Lance,” Brent’s voice is pained, and I silently beg Lance to understand what is happening. “You’ve got it all wrong. I don’t hate Elle.”
“Then you won’t mind if I ask her to move in with us.” Lance is getting defensive and I can only imagine it’s because he is starting to see the bigger picture.
Brent’s nostrils flare. “Nope.”
“Good. I’ll go get her,” Lance points a thumb over his shoulder toward my room.
“She’s not in there.”
Here we go.
Lance raises a brow in question.
“She’s in my bed.” Brent doesn’t back down, fixing a stubborn gaze on his cousin.
