“YOU’RE SIBLINGS, you shouldn’t need this level of privacy!” she shrieks as she begins to pace back and forth in front of us.

“And that judgmental attitude is exactly why we hadn’t told you yet,” James retorts.

“You think I’m being judgmental? I’m the least of your worries and you know it. You’re siblings; fuck the whole biological thing. Who cares that you’re not blood related? You’re siblings!” She throws her hand in the air in exasperation before letting them drop.

“I’m fully aware,” he snaps.

“And this isn’t some siblings that are close in age messing around to learn what it’s like.” She points at James. “You know better.”

“It sounds like you think that he took advantage of me, Monica. It’s not like that,” I interject. The last thing I want is for people to think he groomed me or hurt me or touched me first. Or before I was legal. I initiated this. I wanted it. Needed it. And maybe he needed it too, but I made the first move.

“Oh? Then what’s it like because I know you were a virgin until whenever you all took this step.” She rolls her eyes and I take that to mean she doesn’t believe this has only been going on for a week.

“I’m in love with him,” I tell her honestly. “I’ve been in love with him for years. I made the first move.”

“Oh, I knew about your infatuation, Gab. You wore it on your face, but I certainly didn’t see this for your future. You guys are going to destroy this family if you think this can be a long term thing. You think Mom and Dad will be as calm as I am discussing this with you? Dad is going to kick your ass,” she tells James. “Gab is his little Princess, even more so than me.”

“No one loves her more than I do.” The gruff tone of his voice lets me know that his patience is wearing thin with Monica. “And you fucking know that.”

“This is so classic you, James. You always have to fuck everything up just like when we were kids.” She shakes her head and my heart hurts hearing such harsh words spoken against the man I love. I think about rebutting her comment but his hand squeezes mine and I take it to mean that he’s not taking her comment to heart. “This is not okay.” She looks at me. “You have to see how wrong this is.”

“I love him, Monica.” The tears form in my eyes as I think about potentially losing my best friend over this. “He didn’t fuck anything up,” I tell her, wanting her to know that her comment couldn’t be more off base. “Please don’t hate us.”