Page 73 of Puck My Stepbrother

“Levi disapproves of him, I guess.”

That wasn’t the whole truth, but it was the best I could do. If I told him that Levi absolutely despised Jeff, there was no telling what he would think.

But that wouldn’t be the whole truth either,my inner voice said.He knows there’s someone better out there for you.

“Why would he disapprove of Jeff?” Dad asked. “I haven’t met him yet, but you’ve made him sound like a very nice young man.”

“Heisa nice young man. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a guy. But Levi’s got some crazy ideas about how he’s totally wrong for me.”

Dad paused before asking, “Do you think maybe Levi is homophobic?”

Wouldn’t that be the perfect lie? I could make it sound like the whole thing was about him disagreeing with my sexuality. Dad would probably believe it. But I knew that wasn’t the truth. Plus, it wouldn’t make my problem go away. In fact, I swore nothing would make it go away.

“I don’t think it’s about that, Dad. I really don’t.”

“Well, what’s the problem then?”

“I think Levi can be very dogmatic.”

Dad paused again, as if unsure what I meant.

“What I mean is, if Levi tells you something, even if it’s just his opinion, ithasto be true. You know, because he said it. So if he says that Jeff is bad for me, then he can’t possibly be wrong.”

“He actually said Jeff’s bad for you?”

“No, but he did say he waswrongfor me. Either way, I think he made his point pretty clear.”

Now I realized I was losing this battle. The more I said, the more I exposed myself. If I kept talking like this, Dad would find out everything. Well, maybe not everything. He wouldn’t know that Levi and I had fucked twice, once while he’d had me bent over the kitchen table.

He’d learn enough to make him panic. I mean, what was a man supposed to say about his son sleeping with his future stepson?

“It’s not that he’s homophobic at all,” I said. “I think he just feels I can do better. And believe me, that’s not as honorable as it sounds.”

Dad sat up straighter now, like he knew he had to take this information seriously.

“I can see why you wouldn’t like hearing that,” he said. “Have you told him to mind his own business?”

“Only a hundred times.”

“And he still hasn’t gotten the message, huh?”

“No, and I don’t think he ever will. He won’t allow anyone to challenge what he thinks, remember?”

“Jeez, Quinn, it sounds like a lot more than him disapproving of the boy you’re dating.”

“Well, there’s always more to it with Levi.”

“Then what’s going on?”

I’d really sunk myself in deep, and I knew it. As it was, Dad now knew that something was up between Levi and me, which was totally bad news. I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but I also didn’t want my stepbrother-to-be causing trouble for Jeff and me at the wedding.

“Look, I know I wanted you to settle your problems by yourself before,” Dad said, “but it looks like maybe we’re beyond that. Why don’t I talk to him?”

“No!”

I’d never stopped someone dead in their tracks with my voice before, but Dad froze. His eyes widened like he couldn’t believe it, either.

“I mean, no, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” I said.