Page 17 of Caden & Theo

A few minutes later, we’re standing in Theo’s kitchen, slightly damp from the walk across the sprayed grass, surrounded by the warm smells of lemon cleaner and leftover breakfast sausage. His parents look up from their Saturday paper and the half-finished jigsaw puzzle taking over the kitchen island. There’s a blue-sky piece stuck to Theo’s dad’s elbow.

Amelia’s perched on one of the stools, bonnet and pj’s still on, fork in hand as she picks over the last of the sausage. She glances up when we walk in, gives her brother a once-over when he heads straight to the fridge and starts grabbing drinks, thensmirks. “Look at you playing host. What’s next, you fixing them a plate too?”

Theo shoots her a look, but she just laughs, shaking her head as if to say she’s got the whole thing clocked.

He starts pouring Lori, his mom, a glass of pinot and hands his dad a beer like it’s a backyard barbecue rather than the morning. Then he grabs a soda for my mom and a beer for my dad. He’s got that grin on—charming, practiced, nervous as hell.

I watch him set the cans and glasses down like sacred offerings. “If I’m gonna emotionally strip down,” he says, “y’all may as well do it with a drink in hand.”

His dad, James, chuckles, taking the beer. “This sounds serious, especially since it’s not even midday yet.”

Theo’s mom squints. “This isn’t some surprise ‘we’re expecting’ announcement, is it? Because that would raise alotof questions.”

There’s a beat of total, deafening silence. Then all four parents turn tome.

Amelia is the first to snort a laugh. I follow, saying, “That’s… not even physically possible in this situation.”

Theo coughs into his soda. “Nope. Not that kind of announcement.”

I breathe in. And then again. My chest feels tight, like something’s been living there for a long time and is finally ready to come out. Theo shifts closer, his shoulder brushing mine, and it helps.

“So,” I start, voice trembling just slightly. “I wanted to tell you all… I’m bisexual.”

The room quiets, but not in a bad way. It’s the silence of gears turning, emotions settling. No gasps. No horror. Just stillness. Then my mom crosses the room and hugs me like she’s been waiting years to do it.

“Okay,” she whispers into my ear. “Thank you for telling us, sweetheart.”

Dad steps up beside her. He doesn’t hug me—he clasps my shoulder firmly, like an anchor. “We love you, son. You know that. Always.”

My throat’s tight now. I just nod.

Theo gives me a tiny, smug smile.Told you so,it says, without saying a word.

I clear my throat. “Also… I’m dating someone.”

Four sets of eyebrows go up at once.

“Someone you know,” I add, and glance at Theo, who lifts his soda in the world’s most awkward toast.

“Hi,” he says. “Someone you know here.”

This time, the silence stretches longer. His mom’s mouth falls open just a bit. His dad blinks three times, processing.

Amelia lets out a small laugh, her eyes wide. “Okay, wow. I didn’tknowknow,” she says, dragging the words out, “but I kinda suspected. You weren’t exactly subtle about barricading your bedroom door.” Her grin’s sharp but warm. “For the record, I think it’s awesome. About time you said it out loud.”

“Oh,” Lori finally says after shaking her head at Amelia. “Wow.”

“We didn’t want to keep it from you,” Theo says quickly. “We’ve been figuring it out. But we’re happy. Like,reallyhappy.”

His voice softens on that last part. And it’s true. We are. I feel it in the quiet way his hand brushes against mine again, and I don’t pull away.

There’s a beat, and then my dad exhales through his nose and looks right at me. “Well,” he says, “we love both of you. And we’re glad you told us. But—” He pauses, brow furrowed. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t… worried.”

Theo’s mom nods slowly, her wine forgotten. “It’s not about you two. You know we love you. But you’ve only just turned eighteen,” she says to me. “You’ve got your whole lives ahead of you. And this… this isn’t small.”

“People aren’t always kind,” my mom adds gently. “Especially to boys who look like you. Andespeciallywhen they’re breaking the mold.”

Dad nods. “You’ve got a full ride to one of the top basketball programs in the country, Caden. And as of right now, there are no out players. Not in the league. Not even in D1.”