I take a deep breath. “Okay, thanks for telling me.”
Ali’s face scrunches up. “You’re freaking me out.”
I laugh. “Why?”
“Because you’re not freaking out.”
“You said he won’t say anything. What do I have to worry about?”
“I don’t know, I just thought you’d be losing your shit over this.”
“I have something to tell you, too.”
“Okay,” he replies hesitantly.
I shift in my seat, wanting to face him. “I told my brothers last night.”
Ali’s brows furrow as he tilts his head, staring at me. A few seconds later his lips part. “That you’re gay?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my God! What? Why? What did they say?”
I grin. “They’re fine with it. I never had to worry, and I’m sad that I didn’t tell them sooner, but they know now.”
Ali’s eyes light up as his smile grows. “Wow, how do you feel?”
“So much lighter.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks,” I reply with a grin.
We’re quiet for a little bit before I speak up again.
“Do you remember the last time we kissed?”
Ali looks at me. “Yeah.”
“I was thinking about that night recently. You said you wished you’d never met me.”
“I was just angry,” Ali says, his tone soft.
“Rightfully so,” I tell him. “It was fucked up of me to keep stuff from you. I’m sorry I didn’t handle things better back then. You should’ve been the first to know about us getting signed, but I was afraid to ruin what we had. I didn’t realize I was ruining it anyway.”
“I guess we can’t change the past,” he says.
“No, we can’t. If we could, I would have done so many things differently. I want to come out for multiple reasons, Ali. I want it for myself, so I can shed the facade. I hate pretending to be something I’m not. I want it for us, because I want you in my life more than I want anything. And I want it for kids like Kenny. Kids like him deserve to have idols that are just like them. Gay kids need to know that being gay isn’t wrong, and it isn’t something that should be kept a secret. You can be gay and successful.
“I don’t know how messy shit’s gonna get, but the guys are coming into town soon and I’ll be telling them, too.”
Ali’s eyes are wide and dancing over every inch of my face.
“What?” I ask. His gaze moves to my mouth and I smirk. “Wanna kiss me?”
“I do, but there’s so many people around.”
“Then let’s go somewhere where there’s none.”
28
Alejandro
Present Day
After getting rid of our trash, I hightail it out of the parking lot and go straight to Elijah’s so Merrick can get his car. The plan is to follow him to his hotel, and then . . . see what happens.
My heart hasn’t stopped racing since he asked if I wanted to kiss him in his boyishly charming way. The way he’s asked since we were teenagers.
Is this the smartest thing to do? I no longer care. I can’t keep denying what I want, and my heart and my body have always wanted Merrick Kingston.
I pull up behind his SUV, but as soon as I come to a stop, another car drives into the driveway.
“That’s E and Nova,” he says, staying in his seat.
When Elijah and Nova get out of the car, they wave him out.
“We might be stuck here for a minute,” he says before getting out. “Hey, guys. Date night?”
“We just went to the grocery store,” Elijah responds. “Is that Alejandro?”
I duck and meet his gaze through the window, giving them a wave and smile.
“Why don’t you two come in for a minute? Royce is on the way, too. He’s picking up some stuff Mom had. He’s going to incorporate it into his wedding.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Merrick responds. He looks back at me and gives me an apologetic look.
I shut the car off and get out.
Before we can even make it inside, Royce pulls in and parks behind Elijah’s car.
“Hey, what’re y’all doing here?” he asks, looking between me and Merrick.
“We just got done playing basketball, and Ali was bringing me back to my car.”
“Let’s head inside,” Elijah says.
Once the door closes behind us, I take in all the changes that have been made since I was here last.
“Wow, this place looks great,” I say.
Elijah smiles. “I’ll give most of the credit to Nova.”
“Not much needed to be done,” she says. “We painted some walls and changed up the furniture a little. And of course I had to add a feminine touch to the decor, but it’s always been a great house.”
Sugarfoot comes trotting up. “Wow, and this guy’s still around,” I say, petting his head.
“He’s an old man now, but he’s still doing good,” Elijah responds.
“Like you,” Royce quips.
“Ha-ha,” Elijah responds sarcastically.
As we head to the living room, Merrick asks Royce, “What’re you using in your wedding?”
“Oh, Mom kept her veil, so London’s gonna use that, and we still have the glasses they drank out of at their reception, so we’re gonna use those, too.”
“I’m glad we kept that stuff,” Merrick says.
“Yeah, and Dad has his cufflinks and tie, so if you ever get married you can use those,” Royce adds, his eyes cutting to me for a second.
Merrick just lifts his head in response.
“You guys want something to drink?” Nova asks.
“I can get it,” Merrick says.
“No, it’s fine,” she replies, heading for the kitchen.
“I’ll take water or Gatorade. Ali?” Merrick asks, looking at me.
“Yeah, either is good with me. Thanks.”
“So,” Royce says, looking between me and Merrick again, a small smile on his face. “Are you two up to no good tonight or what?”
Elijah clears his throat, and when I look at him, I see him giving Royce a look.
“We’re not up to anything,” Merrick replies. “Just needed to remind
