Page 160 of Pretty Obsessed

"More to the point, oh fuck." Iris started laughing. "They started trying to guess who it was. One of the producers, maybe one of the writers. Hell, it could have been another musician, which would have been highly interesting."

Emory tapped me, and I carefully set Emory on his feet and we both fixed ourselves while Iris talked.

"Then very softly I hear River moaned as if in reverence, or prayer, so I instantly know who it is. I stared at them thinking they’d know too but I think they were laughing too hard. So I calmed down and thought: you two are safe, but then crisp as a damn bell we heard River cry out. There is no mistaking your voice for anything. We've heard you sing for far too many years to not know whose tenor that was."

"Nooo." I could feel the heat coming to my cheeks. I wasn't exactly embarrassed, but we hadn't told any of them save Iris. They all thought we were close friends.

"We of course all met eyes and Lowe's were about as big as saucers. For as fluid as that boy dresses, you would have thought he'd never considered the idea some of us might enjoy some dick. He got all flustered. Entertaining stuff. I tried to call you and tell you you had an audience, but obviously answering the phone to your best friend wasn't high on the priority list."

Emory and I were both laughing.

"Nope, sorry, bro. I'm not going to answer the phone, balls deep."

"I've answered the phone to you mid-orgy. I'm hurt."

"I did not need to know that." I scrubbed a hand over my face. "How did they take it other than the shock?”

"Fine, I think. But you're probably going to have to address that later."

"Right. Guess the cat is out of the bag." I leaned over to kiss Emory's forehead. "We'll be in shortly."

"Cool."

I hung up and waited for Emory's reaction. He stayed measured, keeping everything off his face.

"So everyone knows," I said when he didn't speak.

"Yes."

"Is that okay?"

"Can't go back, can we?”

I didn't like this at all. I didn't like not having control. We hadn't talked about coming out at all. Not to the public or the band. Everything was so new. We'd just started calling each other boyfriends and he'd just said I love you. Would this spook him?

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not sure what else I could say.

"It's not your fault. I started it…" He dragged his teeth over his lower lip. "Did you not want them to know?"

"I'm okay with them knowing. I'm not hiding it. We hadn't talked about it." I still couldn't glean anything from his expression. "Did you want them not to know?"

"I thought you were waiting for something." There was a hesitance in his words.

"Only until we talked it through. I'm not ashamed."

"But you're not out." This was more thoughtful than hesitant which gave me hope.

"No, because I didn't realize I'd date a guy before you." I hoped my honesty came off the right way.

He smiled and started to laugh. I could breathe again. "Then while embarrassing as fuck, we've done worse."

"No kidding." I took his hand in mine. "It makes things a lot easier, not having to hide us around them. So, all in all, it's going to be better."

"I agree." He pressed his lips to mine. "Come on, let's go face it. Let them laugh it off.”

“Do we have to?”

“Yes, but it will be worth it.” He cupped my cheeks kissing me more intensely. “I promise.”

"I love you so much.”

“I love you, River.”