Page 83 of Inevitable

“Let’s just talk about this,” Drew said pleadingly.

“What’s there to talk about? You’re telling me you’re in a relationship with two people. What if you meet somebody else who catches your fancy? You’ll just add him to the rotation? This is not normal, Drew. How can you not see it?”

Drew’s jaw clenched as he tried to force himself to calm down.

“I love them both,” he said so quietly the words were barely audible through the rush of traffic.

Ellie shook her head. “Yes, well, I’m not saying this cannot happen, but then you choose, Drew. You choose! You don’t just create some sort of a… a… a…” She waved her hand in the air in an apparent loss for words. “A weird, polygamous setup,” she finished.

Bas’s eyes had narrowed, and this time when he started to step forward, Drew slammed his arm out to stop him.

“Jesus Christ. Stop being an ass, Ellie. You don’t have any right to come here and make us all feel like shit because you don’t approve.”

“Who else is going to make you see that you’re wrong?” Ellie lifted her chin. “Because make no mistake, this is wrong!”

Ezra pushed himself in front of Drew, and Bas followed, so Drew was shielded behind a human wall. Both of them had their arms crossed over their chests, both of them glaring at Ellie.

Drew moved in front of them again, clenching his jaw.

“That’s not for you to decide. You’re not the judge and jury here. I’m happy, Ellie.” They stared at each other until Drew shook his head. “If you can’t accept that, it’s your fucking loss.”

Ellie’s eyes widened before she narrowed them, trying to gauge if Drew was being serious.

“You don’t mean that.”

The harsh laughter that boiled out of Drew’s throat burned.

“Have you conveniently forgotten that this isn’t the first time I’ve been pushed aside because of who I am? Thanks to Mom and Dad, I come prepared.”

They stared at each other in silence that was charged with anger. Ellie looked away first. Her jaw clenched as she started rummaging around in her bag. Eventually, she pulled out an envelope.

“This is an invitation to Mom and Dad’s anniversary party. This is why I’m here. I came to drop this off. We’ll all be there. Adam and Jon are coming, too. It’s the first real, peaceful family gathering we’ve had in forever.” She reached her hand toward Drew. “Think things through. We want you to be there. But only you. You can’t take… them. If you’ll be there, I’ll assume you’ve sorted this thing out.” It seemed Ellie suddenly had trouble even saying Bas’s or Ezra’s names.

“I’ve been in your corner ever since things fell apart,” Ellie said, voice low and insistent, like she was making a last-ditch effort to get through to Drew. “But this? I cannot accept this. You’re asking me to throw away everything I believe in.”

Drew stared at her outstretched arm. “So this is it?” he finally asked. “You’re giving me an ultimatum?”

Ellie’s jaw clenched. “I’m saying you have a choice to make. Your family. Or this… arrangement. I hope you’ll make the right choice.”

With those words, she turned on her heel and walked away from them.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you,” Drew said loudly.

She didn’t turn around.

* * *

It was disorienting how much life could change in mere minutes. One moment Drew was standing on the street, laughing, excitement bubbling in his belly and happiness making his heart tap-dance in his chest.

The next, he was standing in the ruins of his family, trying to catch up to what had just happened. All the building of bridges he’d done over the last few years was useless because once he came out to his family—again—those bridges he’d painstakingly built would be detonated all to hell. He had no illusions about that.

“Fucking fantastic,” he muttered, more to himself than anybody else.

Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe? There was a thorn in his throat, and he couldn’t seem to swallow it.

His head was empty. Usually, when problems arose, he could see a solution, but this time there was absolutely nothing.

Then there were hands on both of his shoulders, and the eerie muffled ringing in his ears was replaced by the street noises again.