Page 136 of Raise Me Up

Hail sighs. “Discover you’re bi and your entire family falls apart.”

“Your parents suck,” I mutter.

“We should form a club.”

Snorting, I drop my head and rub a hand along my stubbled jaw.

“I get why you didn’t say anything,” Hail says. “Guess it’s hard for me to process that there are things I don’t know about you. I assumed you’d at least share the important stuff.”

That one glances off my chin like a blow.

“I tell you things,” I mumble.

His laugh comes out exasperated. “You bought a recording studio without telling me.”

“I showed you two days after I bought it.”

“Yeah.Afteryou bought it. I didn’t even know you had one picked out. And Z… you waited to tell me you found out where he’d run off to when we were having problems.”

I lift my gaze to him. “I’m sorry, Hail.”

“So, are you serious about them? Cause you know I’ll go to bat for my sis, and I’m starting to really like Beau.”

“I’m serious, Hail. I want to pursue this. You know that’s not something I’ve ever wanted before.”

Hail stares at me like he’s trying to piece a puzzle together. Like he’s sifting through memories to pinpoint when I changed my mind about commitment.

“Well shit, Liam. Stasi’s had a crush on you since we were teenagers.”

I sigh. “I’m an oblivious asshole.”

“And Beau?” he prods.

“Beau’s perfect for her.”

“What about foryou?”

I spin one of my rings around a finger. “I don’t deserve him.Eitherof them.”

Hail places a hand on the back of my neck. I lift my head up to meet his stern expression. “You are every bit worthy of their love.”

His hand drops, and then he lets out a breathy laugh. “Jesus, you would end up with two partners. Just don’t tell me any of the weird shit you three get up to.”

I chuckle. “You know I’m good at keeping secrets.”

“Oh, Iknow. Answer my calls more often.”

“Stop touring so much. Then we don’t have to rely on phone calls to keep up.”

“Hey, I’ll be home for a while after my honeymoon. Prepare yourself.” Hail moves to the sliding door, throwing it open.

“Bullshit. You two can’t sit still for more than a couple of weeks.”

I follow him inside, overcome with comfort as I take in my decorated home. Garland and string lights hang from every doorway, and the scent of apples fills the air from dozens of flickering candles atop the new furnishings I bought.

Hail pauses. “I don’t know. This domestic situation you’ve got going on is pretty appealing.”

He slips off to join Z strumming a guitar on the couch.