FRICTION

Ch. 22: Leading the Witness

-Shawn-

I couldn't make sense of it.

"So, you're not into... women?" I questioned, still trying to wrap my head around Eric's confession. "Since when?"

I knew how ridiculous I appeared now, my mouth agape in absolute disbelief. My eyes kept darting around, searching his face for any hint of hesitation. But how could I have predicted this? I hadn't actually expected the kid to out himself.

Scratch that; I hadn't even considered it a possibility. I'd just been trying to give him a hard time. Y'know... Make him squirm a little.

Well, he was certainly squirming now, his eyes refusing to meet my gaze, anxious fingers tapping impatiently against the console.

"Huh?"

"I just—you're into men? Really?"

"That's what I said," Eric doubled down, narrowing his eyes. "Why would I lie about that?"

I knew he was being rhetorical, yet that exact question was looping through my head now. Why had he even hit on my daughter, then? Why had they been outside together, alone, in the middle of the night? What the hell was I supposed to assume?

"That doesn't make sense," I blurted out, growing more exasperated with every non-answer. There had to be another explanation.

Eric just grumbled, shrugging me off. "You don't have to believe me."

"How many?"

He frowned.

"How many men have you been with?"

That caught him off guard. He stammered in flustered perplexion, looking away before suddenly turning back towards me. I could see a surprising amount of determination in his eyes. And annoyance. A shit ton of annoyance. "How the hell is that any of your business?"

I sighed. "Fine. Let me rephrase. Are you only into men?"

He grumbled. "I already—"

"Humor me."

"I am," he gritted out.

"What about them?" I retorted, narrowing my eyes suspiciously. I knew I was overstepping across several lines by even heading down this line of questioning, but I couldn't help myself. He had to be lying. Otherwise... "Well?"

"I don't have to answer that," Eric grumbled stubbornly, rolling his eyes when I didn't immediately cave. "But whatever. They're, y'know, hot."

"Hot? That's it?"

Eric whined, shaking his head in disbelief.

I blinked, staring back at him before awkwardly clearing my throat. "So?" I forced out, ignoring the bratty pout he was brandishing like a weapon.

"I—I don't know, okay? I like... when they're... buff? Hairy? O-older guys, I guess?" he pushed himself to reveal, blushing furiously. "Well, not you, obviously. But... y'know, other older men."

I nodded once before suddenly halting. I let his words process before hastily replying, quirking an eyebrow. Why the hell not? "Huh? What the hell's wrong with me?"

Eric doubled down by nodding his head.

"In fact, I believe that dude said—"