I heard a greeting before my arm was snagged, and Zion dragged me from the room, down the hall toward my bedroom. Had I done something already?
In my room, Zion closed the door and turned to me. “Are you okay with this? We’ve been on a long road trip and were close by, so instead of heading back to the compound, we stopped here for some food and drinks.”
I waved a hand around. “It’s fine.” I laughed. “Totally fine. I mean, it’s your place. You can do whatever.”
His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you okay?”
“Yep,” I popped and nodded. I threw an arm out. “I mean, I know you’ve been with your group—”
“Club. The Diamond MC,” Zion stated with a smirk.
“Right, the MC club for a while. I just thought that if I ever met your guys—”
“Brothers.” He chuckled.
“Yep, um, brothers, that they’d find me, ah, not cool.”
Zion snorted. “Is this you being worried about what they’ll think of you because you’re gay?”
My heart stopped, my breath caught, and I wheezed, “You know?”
Zion smiled. “Shit, Lucas. Mom, Dad, and I know. We’ve known for years now.”
I felt sick to the stomach. “How?”
“Besides the fact you look at guys before women?” he asked. I glared and nodded. He grinned. “Mom found some gay porn on your laptop one day when she went to use it.”
I didn’t have to see to know I’d paled. I felt the color drain from my face.
I sat on my bed with my head in my hands. “That’s just so wrong on so many levels.” I looked up. “I won’t be able to face her. I’ll have to leave the family.”
Zion laughed, and I wanted to punch him. Heck, I’d never been a violent guy, but I was suddenly seeing the appeal of smashing someone’s face in.
“Relax, I’m messing with you. It was me who found the porn, but I’d already suspected. Mom just asked me one day if you’d said anything to me about liking guys.”
I dropped back on the bed and covered my face. “Obviously I’m terrible at hiding it.”
“Bro, we’re family. We’re gonna notice more than anyone. None of my high school friends suspected. What I don’t get, though, is why you haven’t told us?”
I groaned. “Is now really the time to have this talk when you have friends out there?”
“Yeah, it is.” He moved over to my bed and sat next to me. When I didn’t move, he shoved my leg. “Seriously, bro. Why didn’t you say anything?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just got used to keeping it quiet.”
“You know we don’t care, right? You’re you, no matter who you want between your sheets.”
“Zion,” I groaned, heat hitting my face.
“It’s true.”
Sighing, I finally sat back up. “I kind of knew you, Mom, and Dad would be okay with it. But even though it seems more accepted this day and age, Zion, it doesn’t make it easier to come out. There’s still haters.”
“Some people just need to be taught a lesson. If anyone fucks with you, Lucas, you tell me.”
Rolling my eyes, I gave him a small smile. “I can take care of myself. When I’m ready, I’ll tell whoever I want I’m gay, but I want to be comfortable within myself first. I’ve only… had one, um, you know, experience….” I rubbed the back of my neck. “But I haven’t… there hasn’t been anyone special in my life to date.”
“I get it. Just as long as you know I have your back. Mom and Dad will as well. But also, my brothers won’t be like any of those bigoted fuckers,” he stated. “Hell, if they are, they’ll deal with me.”
I bumped his shoulder again. “You’re an okay kind of brother, Zion.”
He snorted. “Just okay? I’m the best. Now, you gonna come out there and have some pizza?”
“Give me a minute, and I will.”
His hand slapped down on my shoulder and squeezed. “You got it.” I watched him walk from my room, and in a way, it felt like a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I should have guessed my family would have known I was gay even before telling them. They did know me the best. Even if Zion traveled in different circles to me, he’d always made sure he was there for me if needed. I just never asked.
I’d promised myself when I moved out of the family home and into Zion’s that I would start living and being who I really wanted to be.
I guessed it was time to begin.
Glancing to the closed door, I heard deep laughter down the hall. There were bikers out there. Bikers I didn’t know. However, they did seem like okay guys, and I knew my brother wouldn’t be a part of their group… club if they weren’t, but could they honestly accept me?
I wasn’t sure, and that was damn scary.
Still, it was worth a try. It was probably time I did come out of my shell. I hadn’t had many friends in high school. Those I had had gone off to different colleges. Those who stuck around made new friends, and we’d drifted apart. Though, I was lucky enough to have a couple of friends from college where we got together every now and then to catch up and wind down from studies.
So, it could be good to go out there and make new friends.
Another roar of laughter filled the house.
Then again, friends were overrated.
Chapter Two
Lucas
By the time I pulled up my big guy boxers and made it out to the living room, I came to an abrupt halt. There on the couch sat my new porn star, and he was playing… playing my vintage Nintendo.
“Hey, Lucas, I saved you some pizza. It’s in the fridge,” Death called from the kitchen where he stood with Zion, Quake, and Torch.
“Ah, thanks.” I smiled; it may have
