“We’ll be home late.”
Dad made a strangled sound but kept his mouth shut when Crystal shot him a look.
“Are you still heading back to school tomorrow?” Crystal asked.
“Yeah. After lunch.”
She nodded and squeezed dad’s hand.
“We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ash and I glanced at each other. Then he steered me out of the living room and up the stairs.
“What the hell?” He closed the door behind him. “Did that seriously just happen?”
“Right?” I flopped onto my bed and buried my head in my hands. “I mean, I thought Dad would be the voice of reason. I expected them to be mad. But he waspissed.”
“He’s a hypocrite.”
“Big-time. I mean, they broke up two families to be together. We’re just college kids. So what if we’re stepbrothers. We didn’t grow up together. Hell, we didn’t evenlikeeach other until a few weeks ago.”
“I’m just shocked Mom was so cool with it. I fully expected her to freak out. Tears and yelling and all that.”
“Same.”
Ash sat on the bed next to me. “Are you okay? Your dad was so harsh with you.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and leaned against him. “I kind of expected it.”
“You did?”
“He’s… he’s a bigot, but one of those hypocritical ones. He’s fine with other people’s kids being gay, but not his.”
“He wasn’t all that fine with me liking dick.”
“I think that had more to do with you sticking your dick in me than you liking dick in general.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. I doubt he would have cared so much if you brought some rando home. Plus, you’re bi. You could still end up with a girl and have what I can’t give you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you could still have the dream. The wife, the dog, the two point five kids, and a white picket fence.”
“Is that what you dream about?” Ash squeezed me tight, amusement tingeing his voice.
“Well, notme. But isn’t that what we’re supposed to want?”
“Maybe for some people.” He kissed my cheek. “But that’s never been my dream.”
“Not even before us?”
“Nope.” He tugged me so I was draped over his lap.
I scooted until I was curled up with my head under his chin.
“I’ve never really thought about the future,” he said softly. “Honestly, anything past getting a job after college is too far away for me to worry about. I don’t have some master plan or dream to fulfill. I’m twenty-one. I have lots of time to figure shit out.”