Page 32 of Unlocked Dive

“He means,” I say, placing a hand on my friend’s arm before he can stomp across the kitchen and start something we’ll allregret. “It’s 2024, and you design video games in the Bay Area. Half the guys you work with are gay.”

“I know that.” He shakes himself free of my grip. “I’m not a homophobe. I just didn’t know my sister’s husband was one of them.”

Echo’s eyes shoot daggers above a contemptuous smirk, while Elke frowns like she’s not the one who lit the match.

“Technically, I’m bisexual,” I say dryly, letting the “husband” comment slide. “And I would have told you years ago, but Lara wouldn’t let me.”

“Lara knew?”

“Of course she knew. I would never keep something like that from any partner, let alone my wife.”

“Is that why she really kicked you out, then? Because she stopped being enough? You wanted to fuck men?” His tone grows louder and nastier with each question, but before I have a chance to try and calm him down, Echo jumps back into the mix.

“If he’s not trying to suckyourdick, why do you care who he fucks?”

“I’m curious about that too,” Elke pipes up from the peanut gallery.

For fuck’s sake.

“I care if he was trying to stick his dick in some kid’s ass while he was married to my sister.”

“I wish,” Echo murmurs, not quite under his breath.

“Fuck off, James,” Elke explodes, jumping up from her stool. “You know as well as I do that Lara was the problem, not Coen’s dick.”

“Enough.” My voice cuts across the kitchen, shocking them all into stillness. “James, I wasneverunfaithful to Lara, and you know better than anyone why we fell apart. You were there.”

Coloring, he looks away.

“Elke, please never talk about my dick again.” I shake my head at her cross-my-heart gesture. “Echo…”I tried to warn you.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” He’s still flushed, brilliant and untouchable in his rebellious truth. “Go to my room.”

15

Byrd

“Iremember when you and Lara bought this place.” James leans his elbows on the deck railing and stares out into the dark trees. It’s an overture, if not quite an apology, and I try not to think of Echo in the same spot, smoking with his head tipped back and his eyes full of stars.

“We had some fun trips those first couple of years.” Taking the spot next to him, I mimic his pose. “Remember that girl you brought up for Fourth of July that time? Jennifer?”

“Juniper.” He chuckles. “God, what a disaster. I thought Lara would skin her alive when she threw up all over the new shower.”

“Yeah, well, she was, what? Twenty-two?”

“Barely.” He glances over at my face. “I guess I shouldn’t be throwing stones.”

“I guess not.”

“Look, man.” He sighs. “I’m sorry if I lost my shit in there. You kind of blindsided me, you know?”

“I know. I was trying to keep it under the radar. I forgot Elke doesn’t really have that setting. Or Echo, I’m learning.”

“So is there really something going on with you and this kid?” He holds up his hands when I level a look at him. “I’m asking as a friend.”

“I know you think you are, James, but I also know anything I tell you will make it back to Lara eventually, and I’d rather not throw any more hurt on that pile.”

“Fair enough.”