We paid and left Denny’s. We got in my car and started driving. I glanced at Ezra as I drove around aimlessly.

                “Where do you want to go?” I asked.

                He shrugged. “Wherever.”

                “Want to come over? We can go swimming or something,” I said.

                “Sure!” he said brightly.

                I drove us to my house and parked the car in the driveway. My cell phone buzzed and I pulled it out, answering it.

                “Hello?”

                “What did Hank do now?” Ethan asked.

                “What are you talking about?” I asked in confusion.

                “My boyfriend texted me saying he saw you in Denny’s and you looked like someone killed your whole family with a tomato and then used their lifeless hands to jerk off,” Ethan said. “And yes, those were actually Will’s words.”

                “Look, I’ll call you later,” I said.

                “With Ezra?” he guessed.

                “It’s creepy how you always do that. Bye Ethan,” I said and hung up the phone.

                We got out of the car and I led Ezra inside. I looked over at my table and groaned miserably.

                “You hung up on me,” Ethan said. “Rude.”

                “Why are you in my house?” I demanded.

                “Because your parents were exhausted, so they called my parents and asked them to help out. My mom is creepily watching Hank sleep right now,” Ethan said. “My dad is your living room. They dragged me along to hang out with you, but when we got here, your dad said that you had left to go hang out with Ezra.”

                “We’re going swimming,” I said.

                “I’ll join!” he said, jumping up.

                “You weren’t invited,” I said.

                “I invite you,” Ezra said, smiling. “I like him. He’s funny.”

                “There you go,” Ethan said, gesturing at Ezra. “I’ve been invited along.”

                I sighed and gestured at them to follow me. We went through my living room and I waved to Uncle Greg before bringing Ezra and Ethan into my bedroom.

                I tossed swim trunks at them. “There, go change. Ethan, you use the downstairs bathroom because I hate you. And Ezra, you use the upstairs one because I hate you slightly less,” I said.

                Ethan pouted and left my room. Ezra followed after him, shutting my door as he went. I quickly changed into the swim trunks and waited for them to return.

                We went out to the pool once they were ready and jumped into the cool water. I noticed the scars on Ethan’s leg as he ran off the deck, jumping into the water.

                My eyes shot to Ezra, wondering if he harbored any dark secrets like Ethan. He seemed like such an open person, but I knew there was a world of secrets behind his pleasant smile.

                “So if you guys are making out and shit, why aren’t you dating?” Ethan asked us.

                “What?” I asked, glancing at him.

                “I can tell you’ve gotten to the awkward ‘oh shit we like each other but we’re not entirely sure we want to date yet so let’s just make out instead’ stage. Also, Will asked if you were dating because he saw you holding hands,” he said with a shrug.

                “It’s like you said,” Ezra said with a smile. “We’re in the awkward ‘oh shit we like each other but we’re not entirely sure we want to date yet so let’s just make out instead’ stage.”

                “I’m impressed you remembered all that,” Ethan said with a nod.

                “It’s complicated,” I said.

                “No, it’s really not. You’re just scared,” Ethan said.

                “I’m not scared,” I said, glaring at him. “I can handle a relationship, Ethan.” Hank may have stolen a lot from me, but I would not let him steal my ability to trust and love other people.

                “Then why aren’t we in one?” Ezra asked curiously.

                “Because…” I paused thoughtfully. “Huh. I don’t know.”

                “Yes you do,” Ethan said. “You’re not scared of Hank. You’re scared of your parents.”

                “Why would I be scared of them? They know my sexuality,” I said.

                “What sexuality? You don’t even have one,” Ethan said, rolling his eyes.

                “Exactly,” I said, gesturing to him. “They understand and accept that I’m willing to bang anything I’m attracted to.”

                “I’m pretty sure that makes you pansexual,” Ezra said.

                “Or just really horny,” I said.

                “Whatever, Rio’s mysterious sexuality aside,” Ethan said dismissively. “You’re scared to make them worry about you.”

                “Why would a relationship make them worry about me?” I asked, hating how Ethan knew these things.

                “Because if something goes wrong with that relationship, then they have to worry about one son being heartbroken and the other being a totally druggie,” he said. “You do whatever you can to take attention off of yourself so that your parents don’t worry about you.”

                “Is that true?” Ezra asked.

                I splashed water at Ethan. “You’re creepily good at that.”

                “It’s a talent,” he said. “I have other talents, but those are typically reserved for Will. I wouldn’t mind showing them to Ezra, though.” He winked at Ezra.

                “What about you?” I asked him. “What about your parents?”

                “My mom wouldn’t be overly thrilled with the thought of me dating,” he said, leaning against the edge of the pool and smiling. “But that doesn’t bother me. I’m almost 19. I can decide that for myself.”

                “This is so romantic,” Ethan said.

                “I’m going to drown you,” I said.

                “Well that’s a little rude.” Ethan backed away from me.

                “Ethan, go to the bathroom,” I said.

                “But I already peed in the pool,” he said.

                “Then go pretend to pee in the bathroom,” I said.

                “Oh, right, romantic alone time,” he said and climbed out of the pool.

                I went over to Ezra, eyeing him, remembering his fear from earlier. I took his hand in mine.

                “Would your parents be mad?” I asked.

                “Probably,” he said with a shrug.

                “I’ll risk it if you do,” I said.

                He smiled. “Good. Then I guess we’re boyfriends.”

                I leaned forward and kissed him gently. I pulled away from his lips, trying to calm my racing heart. I didn’t want to worry my parents. But my feelings for Ezra kept growing stronger as I spent more time with him.

                But then I suddenly remembered what I told Ezra this morning. That I couldn’t date him until he was honest with me.

                “Ezra,” I said. “You need to be honest with me.”

                “In time,” he said, and the smile couldn’t hide the anger burning in his eyes. “Everyone has secrets, Rio. Sometimes it just takes some time to get to the bottom of things.”

                I nodded slowly. “Alright.”

                Ethan came back out and jumped in next to us, splashing both of us with water. I pouted at him as water dripped down my glasses.

                “I hate you,” I said, pointing at my glasses.

                “Why don’t you just get contacts?” he asked.

                “I hate contacts,” I said. “I’d rather wear my glasses.”    

                “And then complain when people take them off to beat the shit out of you,” Ethan said. “Good job Stevie Wonder.”

                “Shut up,” I said, punching him in the arm and splashing water at him.

                The back door opened and Uncle Greg came out. He came over and sat next to the pool, sticking his feet in.

                “What are you boys up to?” he asked.

                “Rio got a boyfriend,” Ethan said. He sniffled and wiped at his eye. “They grow up so fast.”

                “Ethan, I’m going to cause you severe physical damage,” I said.

                “Save that for Ezra,” he said, patting me on the back.

                I groaned. “Uncle Greg, why did you have to keep him?”

                “I thought about giving him to your parents,” Greg said.

                “You would miss me,” Ethan said. “Who else would ruin sincere moments with overwhelming sarcasm and perverted comments?’

                “Oh yes, I would just cry myself to sleep at night if I didn’t have that,” Greg said.

                “And this is where I get it from,” Ethan said, gesturing to him.

                “Are my parents asleep?” I asked Greg, debating when I wanted to tell them about Ezra.

                “Yep,” he said with a nod. “Your dad called us and asked us to keep an eye on Hank. We got here, and they were practically dead on their feet. Your dad said Hank stole your glasses and tried to run out of the house when you were blinded.”

                “Contacts,” Ethan said, and I elbowed him in the side.

                “Is Hank asleep?” I asked.

                “After yelling and beating the hell out of his pillow, he fell asleep,” Greg said. He sighed and shook his head. “Ethan, I will kill you if you ever do drugs.”

                “The only thing I’m doing is Ezra,” Ethan said and winked at him.

                “Do your own boyfriend,” I said, pushing him away from us.

                “Don’t do anyone,” Greg groaned. “Don’t do people and don’t do drugs.”

                “Yea dad, because I have so many friends who could hook me up with drugs. Let’s try Benji and Gideon, who get drug tested to play sports. Or Sonnet, who also gets drug tested to play sports. Oh, and let’s not forget about Will, who got high once in high school and said it scared the hell out of him and he would never do it again,” Ethan said. “I’ll call them up and get a fix.”

                “It’s not funny Ethan,” Greg said, crossing his arms. “Look at Hank. Does that look like a joke to you?”

                “His life kind of is a joke,” I pointed out.

                “Sarcasm,” Greg said miserably.

                Ezra laughed. “You two could be twins. I mean, you look completely different. But you could totally be sarcastic, fraternal twins.”

                “Just what we need,” Greg grumbled, standing up. “I’ll make you guys lunch in an hour or two.”

                He went inside and we swam around the pool, splashing each other and joking around. I felt like things should have changed since Ezra and I were now boyfriends, but everything felt the same as before. I guess that was a good thing, though. I didn’t want a drastic change over some “official” title.

                After about two hours, Greg called us inside for lunch. We dried off and went inside, sitting at the table and eating the grilled cheeses that Greg had made us.

                I pulled my glasses off and wiped them on a towel. When I put them back on, I nearly yelped, because I hadn’t heard my mom coming into the kitchen.

                She looked absolutely terrible. There were heavy bags under eyes, and that broken look was so potent.

                “Greg, thank you so much for keeping an eye on Rio,” mom said gratefully. “And for keeping an eye on Hank.”

                “It’s no trouble at all, Jill. They’re my nephews. Mary and I will help any way we can,” Greg said with a reassuring smile.

                “I should go check on Hank…” mom said nervously.

                “No, no, no. He’s asleep and you don’t want to wake him up. Besides, you need to eat,” Greg said, dragging her over to the table and forcing her to sit down.

                Mom smiled at me. “How was the pool, Rio?”

                “It was refreshing,” I said, slowly taking another bite of my grilled cheese. I glanced at Ezra and mentally sighed. It could wait until another day. She had too much on her plate right now.

                “I like your garden out back, Mrs. Snyder,” Ezra said with a smile.

                “Thank you! I love to garden,” mom said, turning her smile on Ezra.

                “So does my dad,” Ezra said with a nod. “But yours looks a lot nicer than his.” He laughed a little.

                “My mom kills everything she touches,” Ethan said.

                “Too bad that didn’t apply when she held you for the first time,” Greg said.

                Ethan pouted. “Rude.”

                Greg laughed and ruffled Ethan’s hair affectionately. Ethan swatted his hands away and fixed his hair.

                I set my grilled cheese down, not hungry anymore. My appetite had disappeared rapidly as my mom sat there, looking broken and exhausted.

                “Mom, do you want me to make you something to eat?” I offered.

                “Hm? Oh, no thanks Rio!” she said. “I’m not very hungry. I just want some cereal.”

                She got up and fixed herself a bowl of cereal. She sat back down with it, eating it slowly, as if she were forcing herself to. And she probably was. She didn’t want to worry me.

                I stood up and Ethan and Ezra copied me. I led them out of the kitchen and down the hallway to my bedroom, shutting the door. I couldn’t look at my mom anymore. I hated to see her like that.

                “It’s kind of funny, actually. Your mom and dad try so hard not to worry you and you try so hard not to worry them, and in the end that’s what makes you all worry so much,” Ethan said.

                “Ethan, shut up. Only I get to be deep about things,” I said, shoving him onto my bed.

                “You are not going to be deep to me,” he said. “Only Will gets that privilege.”

                I sat on my bed and Ezra sat down next to me. I glanced at him, feeling a little guilty.

                “I’ll tell my parents tomorrow, okay? They’re just…they’re tired,” I said.

                He nodded. “I get it. I’ll tell mine tonight,” he said.

                “Want me there?” I asked.

                “No.” He smiled. “I’m a big boy. I can tell my mom and dad that I’m dating without my boyfriend holding my hand.”

                “Well, call me if it doesn’t go well,” I said. Something told me that Ezra’s parents wouldn’t be overly thrilled with him dating a boy.

                “Can we do the cute, cuddly thing?” Ezra asked.

                “I don’t do the cute, cuddly thing,” I said.

                “What if I give you puppy dog eyes?” he said.

                “I still don’t do the cute, cuddly thing,” I said.

                He pouted. “Jerk.”

                He pulled out his phone and checked it. He sighed and stood up, kissing me quickly.

                “I have to head out. My friend Lucas wants me to come over,” he said.

                “Alright. I’ll see you later,” I said.

                “Bye,” he said, giving me a short wave before leaving the house.

                “So you have a cute boyfriend,” Ethan said once Ezra was gone.

                “I do,” I said.

                “Are you actually going to tell your parents?” he asked.

                “When they don’t look so damn tired,” I said.

                “Well, come on. Let’s play a game or something,” he said.

                I nodded and we grabbed cards, beginning to play spit. I mentally sighed as we played, hoping that everything with Ezra and his parents went well, and praying that getting into a relationship right now wasn’t a bad idea.