𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 | 𝐁𝐗𝐁

ＦＯＲＴＹＳＥＶＥＮ

"I can't believe you're dating someone...." One absent-minded afternoon, exactly four months after her own wedding, my sister, who had accused me of being judgmental, raised her eyebrows at Luke, who was sitting next to her across the table. It was clear as day that Sam was waiting for confirmation. "You haven't dated anyone since that idiot Kate."

"Don't talk about her like that!" I argued. "I thought you loved her."

"Alright." Sam dropped her fork and knife on the table and raised her hands, exaggeratingly staging her own mock surrender. "Do you know her, Luke?" She turned to my best friend as if I wasn't at the table. "Who is this lucky girl who stole my brother? Do you think Ben will marry her and make dozens of babies?"

Luke put his hand over his mouth to cough lightly. At that moment we came face to face. It was clear that Luke disapproved of my relationship with my new boyfriend, who also interned at the law firm where I started interning during my senior year in college, because Luke saw it as a desperate move to get my sister's husband out of my system. However, I liked Steve. So what? Can't I just get my fucking mind off some jerk who left me for my sister?

I stayed silent for a while because the 'tell her' look in Luke's eyes wasn't encouraging at all. Actually, it's sad, but Sam and I haven't been as close since she got married. I mean, okay, it was natural for her to stay away from newlyweds, but I'm her goddamn brother. Maybe this worked for me. I wouldn't have to listen to where Matt took her on their honeymoon, what a luxurious house he rented, how much fun they had together, and dozens of other stories that wouldn't be of any use to me.

"What's her name?" Sam looked directly at me this time. "Why isn't anyone talking? Is this a secret affair?" She sent me and Luke a strange look. "Wait, is she married? Ben, are you having an illicit affair?"

Luke was about to open his mouth to protest, but I held up my hand to stop him. "Steve, Sam... His name is Steve."

I clasped my hands together and placed them on the table, looking at my sister's face. There was not a single movement. She wasn't surprised or shocked or anything like that. She just studied me unnervingly. I don't know how long this went on, but eventually Sam burst out laughing so hard that the entire restaurant turned to look at us.

"Stop joking, Ben."

"I'm not joking, Sam. I'm dating a guy and I'm gay."

Wow, I never planned to come out to my family like this. I also didn't know when I did it that Sam would be the first person. But what is even more terrifying is; I said it out loud for the first time. Meanwhile, when the waiter who came to the table to refill our drinks looked at me strangely, I saw that Luke was also red, but it was too late for all of them.

"Wait..." Sam took a deep breath, ruffling her red hair as she leaned back. "You are serious."

"Uh-huh." I confirmed as I reached for my fork to eat my meal. "And I'm not alone, Luke is gay too."

"Dude!" I laughed slightly as a loud scream came from Luke.

"God!" Sam put both hands over her mouth and stared at a specific spot for a while, then widened her eyes as if she were seeing both of us for the first time. "Damn, I didn't expect this."

"Whatever you do, life is full of unexpected things." After devouring my steak, I took a sip of my wine. "Yeah, now you know."

"Does Mom or Glenn know about this?"

"Of course not." Luke explained to calm her down. "Ben had a crush on a boy from campus during his freshman year. He didn't even know he was gay until he met him. They almost dated, but then the bastard left him for someone else. Now you know the story." Luke sipped his wine as he turned to me, a fire of revenge burning in his eyes for my earlier indiscretion.

"Have you dated a guy?" Sam turned to me with great surprise. "Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly know how to react to things like this. It's not like I don't enjoy it or anything, but..."

"Now that you know the truth, let's get this over with, Sam." I fixed my eyes on Luke with my authoritative voice. "And I'd appreciate it if you kept this to yourself unless I say otherwise."

"Of course I will, do you think I'm going to expose you to mom and Glenn or something?" Sam leaned back and laughed. "But I wouldn't mind... Unless you bring your boyfriend and come over for dinner this Saturday night."

Luke and I looked at each other very quickly. I opened my mouth to object. "Sam, I..."

"I don't think this is a good idea." This time Luke stepped in to protect me.

"Why?" Sam squealed exaggeratedly. "I want to meet my brother's boyfriend! Also Luke, Ben keeps his distance from me, saying it's too hard to juggle work and college at the same time. It's been four months since my wedding and he hasn't come to visit his sister even once."

Damn. Remember what I told you about Sam earlier. Fighting her not to do something she wants to do will always lead to her doing worse. "Calm down, Sam," I said quickly, "Steve and I have only been dating for two weeks. What would he think of me if I brought a guy I've been dating for two weeks over to your house?"

"I don't know, that you want to marry him?" Sam made a corny joke. "Sorry, I don't know about this gay thing at all. What does this mean in gay language?"

"We don't have a special language." Luke waved her off as he raised his hand to the waiter for another bottle.

"Look..." I slowly put my hand on her wrist so that she could understand me for once in her entire life. "I understand that you're enthusiastic about this, and I appreciate your support, sister, but I can't promise to bring Steve your home."

"Yes you do!" Sam immediately became grumpy and wrenched her wrist out of my grasp. "Sorry, but if you don't want our nuclear family to know that you prefer asses over pussies, you will do this!"

I blushed and rolled out of my seat, downing my drink in one gulp. 

Really? Sam, Matt, me and my new boyfriend having a barbecue at home on Saturday night and casual conversation? 

Thinking about what could have happened that night makes me feel like I'm stuck in my worst nightmare forever...