Chapter 62
Mel put Rhys’s glass down in the sink. Their shirt lay on the floor. Mel picked it up, slipping it back over their head. While they wouldn’t mind some more fun with Rhys, after his revelation, Mel doubted he’d be feeling up to it.
Unless it was to hide from his pain, and Mel wasn’t sure they wanted to be that sort of distraction.
With that taken care of—and they should have gotten dressed instead of sitting naked on their couch, but they’d worried he’d already left—Mel headed back toward their bedroom.
They cast a glance at the bathroom door, could hear the water running in the sink, and hesitated.
They doubted he wanted them to go in there right now.
It was obvious he’d needed a moment, or more, to compose himself.
They wished they could assure him he wasn’t weak. It was just another facet of toxic masculinity which had him believing that. Sometimes those things could sneak in, no matter how fierce you were about shutting them out.
Just like Mel let a few articles about him influence their initial opinion. They didn’t shame people about their sex lives. They’d unlearned that purity culture nonsense.
Or at least they thought they had.
Using their phone, Mel turned the lamp back on and temporarily disabled the schedule for it.
Not that Rhys would be staying here every night.
Maybe not ever again. They looked toward the bathroom, but he hadn’t come out.
Still, there was no reason not to make him comfortable when it wouldn’t cost them anything at all.
They’d rather be able to go back in time and confront that woman who thought it appropriate to lock a small boy in a closet, no matter how long.
Who knew how many other kids she’d traumatized similarly.
And then to be allowed to keep doing it.
Mel thought there had been a lot of adults in Rhys’s life who should be strung up by their toes.
Mel had issues with their own parents, but they’d never had to worry about anything like that.
Even when they hadn’t felt quite smart enough for them.
Or how awful it made them feel every time their mother reminded them their studies were more important than what any boy made them feel, as if those were the only ways they could have any worth.
Even though it had rarely been boys their mother should have been worried about.
Out in the living room, the front door swung open. What the hell? They would have sworn they’d locked that. They always did before they went to bed.
“Shit.” They’d been so distracted by Rhys’s fucking thighs they hadn’t thought about it before bringing him into the bedroom. For once, they hoped it was a late night visit by their parents. Not some intruder.
Just in case, they kept their phone at the ready as they peeked out of the bedroom. And let out a long, slightly irritated breath.
“Denny, what are you doing here? You and Sonia were staying at home tonight.”
Their mother answered instead. “She had to go and throw a fit because I laid down a ground rule."
“It’s a stupid ground rule," Denny muttered. “I can’t even talk about something I love. You and Dad go on and on about all your academic research even though none of us care.”
“That’s enough, young lady,” their mother said.
Denny’s face paled, then they were lunging forward, and Mel just barely caught them. “I told you not to call me that. Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Because it is what you’re supposed to be.”
“But, I’m not,” Denny practically screeched. “Why won’t you just believe me? You believed Mel, why am I different?”
Mel looked over their sibling’s head…when had Denny gotten nearly as tall as them? Their mother’s gaze widened. Like she was asking Mel for help. Mel remembered their mother’s reaction when Mel came out to their parents.
It hadn’t been nearly as positive as Denny remembered. So, no, they weren’t stepping in here.
Their mother threw her arms up in the air. “I don’t know why I even bother with any of you. I thought a break would help, but they’d rather be here with you, and I just can’t… Who are you?”
Mel turned their head and saw Rhys standing in the doorway to their bedroom. He had his shirt clutched in his hands, but he’d pulled his jeans on, and they were buttoned. No reason for their mother to look so scandalized. Unless she still hadn’t realized Mel did have a sex life.
Mel turned back to her. “Mom, it’s late. If you want the twins to stay here, that’s fine. You should get home. You have classes tomorrow, don’t you?”
“There’s a man here, Melanie. I can’t leave them alone with him.”
Mel tried not to flinch at the use of their full name. There wasn’t a whole lot that made them dysphoric, but the traditionally feminine name definitely did it. From the way Rhys strode over and put his hand on their back, Mel was pretty sure he’d noticed. Even if their mother never had.
“You wouldn’t be leaving them alone with Rhys,” Mel said. “I’m here, Mom. You’ve never had a problem leaving them with me, even when I was fourteen and they were only two. Like a young teenager was equipped to handle two toddlers.”
“You did fine.”
“Yes but I shouldn’t have had to. I wasn’t their parent. I’ve offered them physical and emotional support since they were born. They’re sixteen. Knowing I spent the night with a man isn’t going to scar them for life.”
“I knew you were hot for him,” Denny muttered. “No matter what you said.”
Mel rolled their eyes but bit their lip to hold in a laugh. That would simply rile their mother up even more.
“You see the way she talks? She has no respect for anyone. I should have sent both of them to that summer camp. They needed to learn some discipline. Maybe that would get some of these absurd ideas out of both of their heads. Baseball won’t get you anywhere in life.
Sonia, you can’t make a living as a story writer.
No one reads anymore. You’d be better off focusing on academia. Both of you.”
“Just kill me now,” Denny said.
“That isn’t funny,” both Mel and their mother said at the same time.
Rhys cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but your first point is wrong. Baseball is the only reason I could even afford to go to college.”
“What? Then, you washed up? So my oldest daughter has to take care of you.”
Mel did flinch this time. Rhys’s hand flexed against their back.
“God, Mom, this is why I can’t stand being around you,” Denny said.
“You think only your opinions matter. Anytime you’re upset with us, you revert to words and names we’ve told you we don’t identify with.
I thought you were better with Mel, and you just hated me, but I guess I was wrong. ”
Denny started down the hallway to the bedroom they shared here with Sonia.
They stopped outside the door. “Rhys is the starting catcher for the Deltry Ocelots. He’s amazing.
He’ll probably be called up to the Steel Suns if something ever happens to Wiley Kincade.
Even I know that, although I might not ever be able to play ball.
Since you won’t even let me play a pickup game with kids in the neighborhood. ”
Their mother tossed her hands in the air. “I don’t know what to do with her anymore.”
“Maybe start,” Mel said, “with respecting their wishes. Denny has told you what they wish to be called. It’s not that hard to follow through with it.”
“She doesn’t know who she is. She’s a teenager.”
“That’s enough, Mom. You won’t stand in here and misgender someone.”
“You can’t talk to me like that. I’m your mother.”
“I’m a full-grown adult, and this is my house which I pay rent for. That means I lay down the rules for being here. You are currently breaking all of them. Now, are you leaving the twins here or not?”
“I don’t think I should.” Her gaze skated to Rhys once again.
“I can leave,” Rhys said. “If that will make things easier.”
“No,” Mel said firmly. They weren’t giving an inch. Not after the way their mom had been behaving. “As I said, this is my home, I decide who stays or goes. The twins have their own bedroom. They’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to be discussing this with your father.”
“You do that, Mom.” Mel went to the door and, this time, made sure to lock it.
When they turned back, Rhys stood there with his arms held out. Mel walked right into them. “You are going to stay right?” they asked, their voice muffled against his chest.
“If you want me to, there isn’t any place I’d rather be.”