“A few weeks now.”
I bit my lip. That was mostly true. We’d only been like this for a few weeks. There was no reason to mention the month of angry hookups.
“Why? Why this.” Dad motioned between us.
“Why not?” Ash stared him down.
“But you’re not gay, Ash,” Crystal said.
“No. But I’m not straight either.”
“Is Jules your first… boyfriend?”
We exchanged a look.
Crystal was taking this way better than I’d thought she would. I’d expected her to lose her shit and jump right into histrionics, which was her usual MO.
“Yes.” Ash turned his attention back to his mom.
“This is unnatural. You’rebrothers.” Dad spit out and slammed his drink on the table hard enough to send half the liquid sloshing out of the glass.
“Ken.” Crystal put a placating hand on his thigh. “They’re not brothers. They’re not related.”
“It isn’t right.” He shook his head. “How can you be okay with this? It’s disgusting.”
“Because it… it is what it is.” She glanced at us. “I’m not exactly happy our kids are… together. But we really can’t be angry at them. They’re adults.”
“Who we’ve been supporting.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Being a parent is tough when you actually have to give a shit about your kids,” Ash snapped.
“Watch your mouth, you little—”
“Ken!”
Ash and I gaped at Crystal in a way that would be comical if the situation wasn’t so fucked up.
Seemed Crystal did have a backbone when she wanted to use it.
“Ash, language.”
Ash nodded.
I squeezed his hand, trying to give him a little extra support. I had no idea what was going on, but since Crystal was our only ally here, it would be best to shut up and let her handle this.
“Is this… serious?” Crystal asked.
Ash and I glanced at each other.
“It’s serious.” Ash turned to Crystal. “It’s real, Mom.”
She studied him, her expression seeking. He held her stare until a soft smile tilted her lips, and she nodded.
“This is wrong.” Dad was still glaring at us. He pointed at me. “You. You did this.”
“I didn’tdoanything. You’re the one who wanted us to be besties. Put us up in the same apartment, gave us the van to share.Youset this up. We were perfectly happy ignoring each other until you forced us to share a space and either become friends or kill each other.”
“Ken, sweetheart, I know you’re upset.”