Icing on the Cake

~116~

After tucking them in, I walked into the bathroom and let a few tears fall. Why did this bother me so much? I had no clue. Well, that’s not true. I knew why.

I began to walk downstairs when I encountered Calum.

“That was kind of rude.” Calum said. “Taking the kids away like that.”

“I’m the one being rude?” I asked, sarcastically.

“Um…yeah?” Calum said. “What have we done?”

“You literally don’t get it?” I asked, getting sort of angry.

“Dude, what’s wrong?” He said in a “bro” type of way.

“Dude. What’s wrong?” I mimicked.

This rising action that would undoubtedly climax into a fight caused Ben to simply get up and awkwardly leave.

“Seriously, Luke, what’s wrong?” Calum asked sensitively and softly.

“That.” I said. “You are so different around Ben. Your entire demeanor changed literally the second he walked out of the door. When he was here, you said ‘dude, what’s wrong’ sarcastically but when he left you compassionately asked me what’s wrong?”

“Do you not want me to hang out with Ben?” Calum asked.

“Ben is clearly so much better at being me than I am.”

“What?”

“He can make the twins fall in love with him in two seconds.” I explained. “And he can get you excited about hanging out, and stuff. You’re a totally different person around him. Are you…are you actually…?”

“Actually what?” He asked.

It had been a question that lingered in the back of my mind for years. And I finally had to ask it. I had to know.

“Are you actually straight?”

Notes