"Like. What?" I say, punctuating each word for emphasis.

"G.o.d, I love you. You always make things so much easier."

"Okay, enough," I say, barely able to control my anger.

"Lai, I'm not telling you that I'm in love with you or that I want to be with you," he pauses and waits for my head to catch up, "I'm telling you that I'm gay."

"Wait...You? What? When?" I can't string together a sentence worth a d.a.m.n from my shock.

"Yes, me. I'm gay. Since...for as long as I can remember," he says. "I wanted to wait until after football season so I didn't have to deal with any fallout."

"But...hold up." I grab my head and look at him so he can talk. "Start from the beginning."

"I don't know, I guess some time back I realized it, but never told anyone. When all the guys were having crushes on you, I was having crushes on guys."

"Our guys?" I ask for clarification-not that it matters.

"Well, there was a time I liked Joey, but that was it. Haden was too moody and Cole was too obnoxious," he grins.

"But why didn't you tell anyone? You know it wouldn't change anything, right?"

"Actually, I did tell my parents this summer," he says. "Yeah, Mom hugged me and said she loved me."

"What about your dad?"

"Funny thing, he thought my big news was that I had picked a college, even though it was too early to apply. After I told him, he was just looking at me. I thought he was p.i.s.sed, but then he goes, 'well?' and I looked at Mom then back to him and he goes, 'so you haven't ruled TCU out, yet?' And that was it."

"Your parents are seriously the best," I gush and reach out to hold his hand. "How did I not know this?"

"Really?" he scoffs. "You thought Haden was gay. I think you're senses are completely off."

"So what now? I mean, clearly Ree isn't your type. I get it, but who is your type?"

Braxton turns around, opens his door to step outside, and stretches while simultaneously trying to hide his smile.

"OmiG.o.d! There is someone. Who?" I ask, jumping out of the car to get the details.

"I don't want to talk about it yet. It's too soon, and outside of my family and him, you are the first person to know."

My smile grows wider and I link my arm through his as we walk to the swing set. Braxton has always been confident and comfortable in his own skin, but I never felt he was hiding anything from us. I figured he was focused on sports and trying to keep his grades up, but there's this whole other side I'm excited to discover.

"Can you tell me his name so I don't have to refer to him as 'him'?" I ask, taking a seat, hoping for some little detail.

"His name is Scot-with one 't'-and he's pretty great." He sways back and forth on the swing and turns his head to look at me.

"Okay, I know you don't want to give me too many details-which I don't get-but tell me something about him. I'm really excited for you."

"We met at work this summer, but he's in college."

I nod my approval. "Older guy, smart-okay, what else."

"Jeez, Lai, give me time here," he laughs. "Actually, I'm really glad you stopped by this morning. I was planning on telling you, but I didn't know when or how."

"You know we love you and there's nothing we wouldn't do for you." I move my swing closer to give him a hug.

"I'm so glad you said that, because now I need you." He stands up and pulls me to my feet.

"Sorry, Brax," I grin, "I'm taken."

"Cute. But really, I have a big favor to ask, and if you don't want to, I understand."

"Anything, just tell me."

"You're the first one to know, but I want to tell the guys-would you...come with me?"

"You don't need me, but absolutely, I'd love to be there with you. When do you want to do it?"

He looks at his watch and then back to me. "No time like the present."

One group text is all it takes and the guys show up to the park without question. Haden sees Braxton and me on the merry-go-round and smiles, clearly remembering our night here when he told me how he felt about me. I'm beginning to think there's something special about this place.

"So what's the big deal?" Cole asks when he is close enough. "I was still sleeping."

"At eleven?" I ask, shaking my head. "Good thing I woke you up then-too much beauty sleep and none of us will be able to look at you."

"Very funny," he deadpans.

"How long have you been out here? You're freezing," Haden says after kissing my cheek.

"Ah, an hour or so, but who's counting?"

"Someone better do some talking before I head back home." Joey sits on another part of the playground toy.

"You will not." I narrow my eyes at him and watch as he backs down.

"All right." Braxton stands up in front of us and crosses his arms across his chest. "I guess now's as good a time as any."

"Are you gonna finally come out?" Cole teases, to which Braxton raises a brow.

Does he already know?

My eyes dart between Cole and Braxton in shock, but he remains the epitome of calm.

"Actually, I am."

Silence.

The guy is standing in front of the four people who know him best and my heart swells with pride. He doesn't look nervous, doesn't cave under their wide-open mouths-he waits for the words to sink in.

"Really?" Joey asks, looking to me.

I nod and smile, looking at Braxton.

"Really," he smiles. "I just told Lai this morning."

"You're happy?" Joey asks, just to make sure, because that's the guy he is.

"Yeah, I am."

"So how long have you been into me?" Cole asks with a laugh. "I mean, we all know that I'm the best looking of all of us."

"In your dreams," Braxton answers quickly. "You'll be happy to know that I don't see any of you like that."

Haden has been quiet and seems deep in thought, so I nudge his arm and he finally shakes his head and joins the rest of us.

"You all right, man?" Braxton asks him.

"Yeah," he mutters. "Just kinda p.i.s.sed you don't think I'm hot." Haden laughs at his own lame joke and stands up, pulling Braxton in for one of those guy hugs that turns out to be a real hug.

"I love you, brother." He pats his back. "I'm glad you're finally being you."

"Haven't I always been?" Braxton seems somewhat offended by Haden's words.

"You've always been you, but you were keeping something pretty big hidden-and that's totally your right-I'm just saying, it's gotta feel good to get it off your shoulders and let everyone know."

There's a look of understanding exchanged between them that I don't get, but then Cole decides to say out loud what I'm not privy to.

"Yeah, I guess Haden knows what it's like to be in the proverbial closet. I mean, he only pined after for Lai for like, what-ever?"

"Cole, take a look around," I tell him. "You're the only single one here."

The words come out and I want to strangle my own neck. I spin to face Braxton and apologize, but he shakes his head and smiles before pulling my back to his chest and wrapping his arms around my neck in a hug.

"What Lai didn't mean to say is that, I'm seeing someone. I don't want to give out details right now, but he's pretty d.a.m.n cool and I guess we'll see what happens."

"Cool," Cole says. He stands up and rubs his hands on his jeans. "So are we gonna get some lunch or what? I'm starving."

"I could eat," Joey agrees, hopping to his feet.

"Let's go then," Braxton agrees and takes me to his car.

Cole, Joey, and Haden get into their cars and wait for us to lead the way. Braxton closes the door when he climbs in, exhales a huge breath, and starts laughing.

"You okay?"

"That went a h.e.l.luva a lot better than I expected," he says with a shy smile. "I guess I thought they'd be p.i.s.sed or not want to hang out anymore."

Yet another reason I love these guys: Braxton tells them something that has ruined friendships and families because people can't handle it-but here are my guys...being themselves. Amazing.

"Never in a million years." I reach out and squeeze his hand. "I think you're stuck with us."

"Looks that way."

"Does this mean you're bringing a date to the quarry for New Year's Eve?"

"Baby steps, Lai. Let's get through Christmas first."

Chapter 20 ~ Finding Resolutions.

"I need you to help me out here, Joe."

"You know I hate it when you call me that," he huffs, and I'm pretty sure he's rolling his eyes. "What's up?"

"First, you get a girlfriend. Finally. I start dating Haden, which is working out really well-and then of course Braxton being gay. I feel like everything is changing. Are we changing?" I let all of it rush out at once.

"Yeah. It is-we are."

"Great," I groan, pulling the phone away from my mouth before rejoining the conversation.

"-to be," is all I hear him say.

"What?"

"I said, 'that's the way it's supposed to be.' We aren't supposed to be glued together for life. I love you, Lai, you know that, but you're so terrified of moving on and losing what is happening now that you're going to miss out on the next part."

"What part is that?"

"Life."

"Stop being mature and mope with me. Things are coming to an end. Soon we'll graduate, and who knows where we'll end up for college. I mean, I'm sure you'll end up at some Ivy League school or someplace like that, but the rest of us have no idea where we want to go. This is the end of an era."

"Why are you trying to call time of death when we have four months left of school-seven before we leave for college? Stop worrying so much."

"Well stop being so practical," I argue.

"Are you going to be like this all night? Debbie Downer?"

"I am not Debbie Downer," I protest, appalled by the accusation. "I'm just looking back fondly on all the good times I've had with my favorite people, but if you're all happy to leave everything behind, then woo, let's party."