Page 89 of Zero Confusion

They’d clearly put some effort into this, and Miles’s heart warmed on behalf of his brother. Max had been hiding for years, resigned to a life of secrecy. This easy acceptance and support would mean the world to him.

As the brothers made a move toward the entrance, he stopped them. “Zach’s inside with your mom. Give them a few minutes? After that, I’m sure he’d love to see what you got.”

Both of them perked up at the mention of Zach.

“That’s awesome. I gotta tell him how much I liked Lord of the Rings.” Jerry turned to Abe. “You should watch it.”

Abe glared at him. “You know I’m not into old movies.”

“It’s not exactly in black and white.” Miles snorted in amusement. “You’re only four years younger than me. How are you making me feel so ancient?”

Abe shrugged. “I don’t watch movies made before I was born.”

Jerry shook his head and smirked at Miles. “Children.”

Miles couldn’t argue with that.

After saying their goodbyes, the brothers walked around the house to the backyard, giving Zach more time with their mom. Miles’s heart was bursting with happiness as he backed out of the driveway, relieved that Zach’s family had pushed beyond simple acceptance. It wasn’t just the clothes or the tiny rainbow sticker on Jerry’s sedan—it was their attitude. The unconditional love they radiated—as if that were the only option, as if they couldn’t imagine a world in which they wouldn’t love Zach no matter what.

Zach would need some time to get used to it. After years of worrying, there was no way he would take this acceptance at face value.

They’d just have to convince him.

Chapter 34

ZACH

The rehearsal dinner had to be Mrs. Carter’s way of making sure the wedding got canceled because no one could fit into their suits. It had to be. There was no other reason for her to flit in and out of the dining room, bringing in dish after dish until the table was groaning under the weight of a feast rivaling Christmas and Thanksgiving put together. This wasn’t just any meal—it was a preview. As Miles had explained on the way over, most of the food for the buffet-style reception tomorrow was coming from their kitchen, with Zach’s mom lending a hand and some freezer space.

Apparently, when Raymond suggested hiring a caterer, Laura had taken it as both an insult and a challenge.

Zach tried a bite of everything, making sure to compliment her at regular intervals. She still scared him. Despite her smiles and hugs when he showed up on her doorstep, Zach kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was the reason her family had almost fractured. He was the reason Miles wasn’t coming home after college. If eating his weekly calories in one sitting meant storing up some goodwill, Zach would gladly keep shoveling food into his mouth.

He waited until she flew out of the room with a promise of apple pie before whispering in Miles’s ear, “You’re gonna have to roll me out of here on a wheelbarrow.”

Miles snickered. “You don’t have to eat everything my mom puts in front of you.”

“I’m not saying no to her cooking, are you crazy? She doesn’t need more reasons to hate me.”

“She doesn’t hate you.” Miles sighed and threw his arm around Zach’s shoulders. “Why do you always think that?”

Zach’s eyes bugged out of his head as he stared at Miles in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? First, you run away from home to spend the summer with me, then you come out and declare you love me, causing some kind of gay avalanche amongst your siblings.” He kept his voice low, but Max must have overheard, letting out a soft laugh. The sound was so sweet and carefree, Zach couldn’t help grinning in response.

“Don’t worry about it,” Max said. “You’re family.”

The sentiment spread a warm glow through Zach. Although the heart-to-heart with his mom went much better than expected, he still felt raw and fragile. Prepared for the worst. Ready to run. A part of him was afraid to trust how well things were going.

“You’re my family, Zee,” Miles murmured, squeezing his knee under the table. His voice was too low to carry, meant for Zach alone. “I’m with you. No matter what.”

The soothing words calmed the worst of Zach’s jitters—though not enough to turn down a second helping of apple pie when it was offered.

After Laura’s stern reminder to show up early the next day for pictures, Miles drove him home. They held hands in the truck, exchanging a brief kiss before parting for the night.

Jerry and Abe were playing a video game in the living room. As soon as he walked in, they excitedly motioned for him to join them. The gory first-person shooter wasn’t his style, but he settled on the couch nearby and messed around on his phone, exchanging occasional bits of conversation.

Soon, his parents drifted into the room, quietly doing their own things—his mom chewing on a pen as she solved her daily crossword at the table, his dad settling into the old armchair with a newspaper, his boots still on, listening more than talking.

Zach still hadn’t said more than a few words to his father. Neither one of them seemed eager to bring up the elephant in the room. Knowing Walter’s taciturn ways all too well, Zach assumed they’d move forward without ever speaking of it. It wasn’t quite acceptance, but it wasn’t rejection either—and Zach was fine with that. He’d always seen their gruff head of the household as the biggest hurdle, the one least likely to welcome him back, and his silence was probably the best-case scenario.