Page 27

Amos

“Josiah,”

I whispered after I forced myself not to storm from the freaking living room. “I need to get the fuck out of here before I say something and Dad kicks me out for good.”

Josiah patted my back and pushed me out the back door. He led the way to the old swing set we used as kids. There’d been a lot of deep conversations on that swing set, between us, so even though we were both grown, it made sense.

“Listen, you have every right to be mad. Dad is going too far. But he’s afraid for your career.”

I just looked at my brother. “He’s afraid for himself. Scared the money will stop flowing.”

“That’s not fair,”

Josiah chastised me. “Dad barely spends any money you send. He squirrels it away and says you’ll probably need it one day.”

I sighed and slipped onto the swing, way too small now for my big ass. “I know. Shit, he’s so ridiculous though. I mean, why does he have to act that way?”

“’Cause he worries about you all the damn time.”

“And not you?”

I countered, feeling the jealousy I’d always felt around my brother.

“No, dude, I’m the lawyer. Few people would fire me, and certainly not because I’m out or want to do drag. You… well, you’ve always been more emotional.”

“And my emotional ass has several mil in the fucking bank too.”

Josiah chuckled. “I didn’t say it makes sense. Dad’s just being Dad.”

I pushed off the ground and let the swing take me, hoping it wouldn’t bend in the middle from my weight. Luckily it held, ’cause swinging had always been how I’d worked through a hell of a lot of Dad-pressure issues.

Josiah and I hung out for a while until his phone buzzed. He looked at it and smiled. “Hey, my boyfriend Saram wants to go down to Millie’s for dinner and a beer. Wanna join us?”

“Hell, yes,”

I said, knowing it was my best excuse for escaping Dad’s ongoing tirade about my bad career choices. Besides, I liked Saram. From Lebanon, he was smart, funny, and didn’t put up with Josiah’s shit. He was perfect for him.

“Okay, go get dressed. I told him we’d meet him there in an hour.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’m sorry to be a third wheel, but for real, I need rescuing from Dad.”

Josiah looked at me and sighed. “To be honest, brother, Dad’s not gonna let this go anytime soon. I recommend you find somewhere else to crash. Does your buddy Owen still have the room you stayed in when you came down before?”

“Yeah, I’ll call him tomorrow. I’d intended to stay here, spend time with the family, but shit, you’re right. He’s not giving this up.”

I left Josiah texting Saram, probably about tonight, and went to my old bedroom to get ready. I thought about wearing my hoodie and dark glasses, and then shrugged it off. I’m sure someone would recognize me, but this was a gay restaurant/bar, and when we’d gone there in the past with my brother, hardly anyone paid me much attention, once I made it clear I wasn’t looking, that is.

Besides, if it was too much, I could always just come home. At least I’d be out of the house and could get some space from my father and his incessant disappointment.