I turn to get it for him. If he was after any other ingredient, I’d be doubtful about finding it in Brenden’s kitchen, but sugar, I know he has an abundance of. There’s a small ceramic jar shaped like a snail beside the coffee maker, and he keeps more in a cabinet. What he doesn’t have, however, is a measuring cup (not a surprise), so I find a suitable Tupperware container for Mitch and eyeball the amount I pour.

“Thanks, man,” he says when I hand it to him. Then his forehead scrunches up like he’s thinking hard, and he adds, “I mean, thanks, Brenden’s boyfriend.”

Holy fuck, I’m so ready for this day to end.

Luckily, Grant already thinks Mitch is a weirdo and doesn’t look too confused by the ridiculous line. Still, I usher Mitch out of the kitchen before he can open his mouth again. Grant steps aside to let us through the doorway, and thankfully, he doesn’t follow as I keep ushering Mitch all the way out the front door and onto the porch.

“Yo, what’s the rush?” he gripes out as he stumbles. “I pretended good, didn’t I?”

I close the door behind us a little too forcefully, then hiss at him, “Please tell me you’ll keep quiet about this.”

The last thing Brenden needs is for the entire town to hear about how I’m pretending to be his boyfriend, because then some idiot will end up blowing his cover in front of Elise and Grant.

And the last thing I need is for my dad to find out about this and start wondering if I’m actually... well, what I am.

“And what is it exactly that I’m supposed to be keeping quiet about?” Mitch asks. “Why the heck does that boring man think you’re Brenden’s boyfriend? You don’t like dick.” He gives me a frighteningly calculating look before adding, “Or do you?”

Jesus, these people. Does nobody have tact anymore?

“It’s a long story,” I tell him. “You can ask Brenden to explain it to you after May’s grandparents leave.”

I probably should have reaffirmed his belief that I’m straight, instead of ignoring that last question. But even though my heart’s racing at the possibility of being found out, I don’t think I have it in me to flat out lie about my sexuality.

Maybe a couple weeks ago, I could have. But now saying I’m not into men would be like saying what me and Brenden have done together wasn’t real. The dating may be fake, but the attraction and orgasms are all too real.