Chapter 24 #2
“Worried about the nicest, kindest person I know being rejected by his family for who he is.” Miles stood from his seat, pushing the chair back with a scraping sound.
“Worried about the man I love disappearing from my life because he didn’t feel like he belonged.
And, hey, look at that!” He spread his arms with a mirthless chuckle. “That’s exactly what happened!”
Mara smirked at him with satisfaction, but his focus was on his parents. Anthony glared at him with a cold expression, while his mom’s eyes grew in shock.
“Miles, sweetie, what are you saying?” she asked cautiously, enunciating each word.
“You better watch yourself.” His dad pushed to his feet, slow and deliberate, until he towered over the table.
His face burned red, twisted with rage, and bits of spittle settled in the corner of his mouth as he jabbed a calloused finger at Miles.
A numb haze enveloped Miles as he studied his father’s expression.
For all of Anthony Carter’s gruffness, he didn’t get angry often.
Not like this. The threat of his temper had always been enough to keep his children in line, but now that it was turned on him, Miles couldn’t find it in himself to care.
Compared to the pain of losing Zach, this barely registered.
Miles rolled his lips and weighed his next words. He was about to lose his family—like Zach had—but there wasn’t a shred of regret in his heart.
He was all in.
“I think you know exactly what I’m saying.
But if I have to spell it out…” Miles folded his arms in front of his chest. “I’m bisexual.
Or pansexual. I’m not sure yet. The point is, I’m in love with Zach.
And before you start, no, I’m not confused, and no, it’s not a phase.
You can kick me out, stop paying for college, threaten to disown me, but none of that’s gonna change a damn thing. I will always love him.”
His father’s jaw was clenched, every breath tight with fury, while his mother’s lips trembled, eyes glassy with unshed tears. Miles hesitated, caught between wanting to storm off and needing to stand his ground.
“Umm. Fuck it.” Max’s voice pulled everyone’s attention toward him. “I’m gay.”
An unbidden smile spread across Miles’s face, the significance of Max’s declaration slamming straight into his chest and coating him in soft warmth. He hadn’t realized how badly he wanted—needed—his brother on his side.
“Sorry I can’t stand up and face off with y’all, but, y’know, broken leg. Uhh, but yeah, Ray and I have been together for almost three years now.”
His dad didn’t explode the way Miles expected. His features shifted from anger to something sharper, more dangerous.
“You think this is a joke?” he said, voice rough with barely contained rage. “Both of you? In my house?” The words hung heavy in the air as his glare snapped between Miles and Max.
Across the table, his mom’s gaze flickered between them, scanning each son as if piecing together an intricate puzzle.
The house felt different now—smaller, suffocating.
The ticking of the clock on the wall grew louder, each second stretching too long.
Outside, a bird screeched, filling the silence none of them knew how to break.
Miles was aware of every single sound in the room—the faint creak of Max shifting his cane, the soft sniffling noises from his mom, his father’s fast, uneven breathing.
It felt like they were going to live in this moment forever.
“That’s cool. I’ve always wanted two gay brothers.” Mara popped a piece of bread into her mouth and nodded thoughtfully, as if she were an equal part of the conversation. Had she already known about Max, or was she truly taking everything in stride?
“Mara, you’re excused,” Anthony gritted out. “Micah and Misty, you too. Go to your rooms.” He waved his hand in dismissal.
Miles glanced at his youngest siblings. So quiet most of the time, it was easy to forget they were there.
A twinge of regret slithered through him.
He should have spent more time with them.
Even if they preferred to keep to themselves, living in their own twin bubble, he should have tried harder.
With him and Max kicked out of the family, only Mara would be there to help them navigate life on the farm.
On second thought, with her as their big sister, they didn’t have much to worry about.
He waited for their quiet acquiescence, for them to silently get up and scurry away, but Micah and Misty exchanged a glance and stayed seated, their twinkling eyes alight with curiosity.
“Nah, I’m good,” Mara drawled, making no move to leave either. “I think girls are hot, so you might as well lump me in with the deviants here.” She hitched her thumbs at her older brothers.
Their mom gasped, hand flying up to cover her mouth, and despite the gravity of the situation, Miles had to fight to keep from laughing. Mara’s irreverence filled him with absolute joy.
“Are you actually kicking everyone out?” Misty asked in a shaky voice.
“I mean, we’re not trying to be the only ones left to do the chores.
” Micah didn’t seem as upset as his sister, a hint of sarcasm breaking through.
“Plus, who knows, maybe we’ll have our big bi-awakening in college.
Anything’s possible. Max, can we crash with you and Ray?
Sorry, Miles, I’ve seen pics of your dorm. I don’t think we’ll fit.”
A few minutes ago, Miles had been running on adrenaline, bracing for the moment his parents tossed him out on his ass.
His siblings had been physically there, at the table, but they’d been nothing more than silent witnesses, and he would never ask anything more of them.
He couldn’t. The cost of their support would be too high.
But they didn’t wait for him to ask. One by one, they banded together behind him, ignoring the risks. The twins’ acceptance was immediate, unwavering. And though he’d already known Max and Mara were on his side, he never in a million years would have expected them to take a public stance for him.
But they did.
They all did.
The force of it hit him all at once, a swell of emotion so strong he nearly sobbed with relief.
As soon as the argument ended, however it ended, he’d pull them into his arms and tell each and every one of them how much they meant to him.
He’d stop grumbling about helping Max get around the house.
He’d use his savings to buy Mara a new laptop. He’d spend more time with the twins.
He’d be able to do all those things because, for once, their parents were outnumbered.
“Nobody is leaving to go live anywhere else!” Their mom slapped her palm on the table and pursed her lips at Micah and Misty. “Especially you. You’re underage.”
Micah started to argue when their dad threw the fork he was still holding onto his plate.
“Enough! I’m done talking about this,” he snapped. “You two—” He scowled at Miles and Max. “—I want you out of my house by tomorrow. And the rest of you—” His glare swept over his younger children. “—we’re gonna have ourselves a talk later. You best think real hard on what you’re gonna say.”
No one said a word.
“Let’s go, Laura.” With one last sneer, he stomped out. Seconds later, the slam of the front door reverberated through the room.
It should have hurt more. Miles knew he’d just been rejected by his father, knew he should have felt sad about it, but the lingering high of his siblings’ unexpected support left no room for heartbreak. Not yet.
His mom glanced around the table, her eyes briefly darting to the doorway through which her husband had disappeared. Something shifted in her expression, sorrow hardening into a steel resolve, and until that moment, Miles would not have dared to hope that she might stay.
He held his breath, wondering what she would do next, whose side she would choose.
She lifted the salad bowl, asking no one in particular, “Salad, anyone?”
For Miles, it might as well have been a declaration of love and acceptance.
He exhaled and sank back into his chair. Slowly, everyone returned to their plates, the air between them settling into a fragile, comforting quiet. His siblings shared small, secret smiles across the table, each one warming Miles’s soul.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
And Miles wouldn’t have it any other way.