Page 75 of Dear Mr. Brody
“What? That’s insane.”
“Quality,carnal… it’ll cost you.”
“They don’t fit or feel any different than the cheap-ass sweats I wear to the gym.” Four-hundred dollars. Fuck, now I was worried I’d ruin them. “I’ll be right back.”
I heard Marcos laugh as I shut my bedroom door. I immediately stripped out of the pants that could have funded a month’s worth of groceries at Pride House and folded them before I sent Van a text.
Me: You’re probably sleeping. But why in the hell would you lend me $400 pants?
Marcos pushed my bedroom door open and squealed. “Dios mio, why is your dick hanging out?”
“Fuck, can’t you knock?”
“I mean… it’s not like I haven’t—”
“Out.”
Of course, he didn’t leave, leaning in the doorway, he didn’t even have the decency to avert his eyes. I tossed my phone onto my bed and grabbed a pair of briefs and gym shorts from my dresser.
“What do you want?” I asked as I got dressed.
“You come home wearing designer pants, smelling your shirt, also not yours, all smitten and shit, and expect me not to ask questions?” He cocked his hip. “You know me better than that.”
“Sit down,” I said, and he balked at my stern tone. “Will you sit your ass on the bed so I can do this? Please.”
“Since you said please…”
Marcos sat on the edge of my bed and my stomach knotted. I trusted him not to say anything. And even though he’d teased me about my crush, the truth was a boulder in my throat. The pull I felt for Van, how I couldn’t stop thinking about him, how big all of this was already, how did I explain this to my best friend who literally took nothing seriously.
“You can’t say aword, Marcos.”
“Okay, okay.”
“I’m not fucking around, not a word, alright?” I ran my hands over my hair and exhaled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”
“I’ll forgive you if you kill the suspense and just spit it out already.”
“I’m dating Donovan.”
“Wait… Donovan, as in…” His eyes widened and he bounced on the bed. “No way, you’re banging the teacher?”
“We are not banging.” I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t make me regret telling you.”
“Does he know that I know?”
“Yes, I asked him if it was okay to talk to you about it.”
He squealed again and started coughing. “Fuck, that hurts.”
“You can’t tell anyone. Not Tam. Not a soul. He could lose his job. He has a daughter… shit, please… you can’t—”
“Don’t offend me, Park. You’re my family, I wouldn’t say anything to anyone.”
“You’re a gossip.”
“True… but I love you,hermano. Your secret is safe with me.” His smile was more vibrant than I’d seen it in days. “Oh my God, was he the app guy?”
“Yeah.”