Page 140 of Lessons in Chemistry

I sniff and wipe my eyes. “Fuck, I hope so. How are you feeling about telling them about us?”

“I’m nervous about all of it,” Casey says.

Emory and I squeeze his arm.

“I am, but I’m also not. My parents will be shocked at first, but they’ll come around when they see how happy I am with you,” Emory says.

“That’s pretty much how it’s going to go with my family too. They’ll be the first people I’ve had to come out to.”

“Don’t we count?” Emory asks.

Casey chuckles. “I didn’t exactly come out to either of you. Well, maybe I did come out to you, Em. But Auggie was the one to make me think about whether or not I was ace or grey or demi. Thank you for that, by the way. I’d still be confused if you hadn’t talked to me that night.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Are you feeling any better?” Emory asks me.

“Yes, lots, thank you.”

“We’re here for you. Whatever you need to get off your chest, we’ll listen.”

“It’s what boyfriends do,” Casey says.

I put my arms around their shoulders and hug them to me as my heart swells. “I love you. Thank you for everything that’s happened since the moment we met.”

“For transforming you?” Em asks.

“I’m going to get that quote framed.”

“Which one? The original?”

“No. The revised version you came up with. You need to finish wrapping.”

“We do?” Casey asks.

“Yes. Then I can take you to bed.”

“Speed wrap?” Emory suggests.

Casey laughs. “You can. I’ll make a mess if I do.”

I kiss his temple. “We can wait. Take your time.”

26

EMORY

Casey and I are on the bed while Auggie takes a shower. Casey is sitting, and I’m lying with my head on his lap, stroking his thigh while he combs his fingers through my hair.

“I meant what I said,” I whisper.

“Hm? You said a lot of things this evening.”

“About wanting to give myself to Auggie.”

I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Not that I’ve said anything to Auggie or Casey. Then it popped out while Casey and I were explaining what being in love feels like.

“Have sex with him?” Casey asks.