“No. Like, maybe at one time, but not now. But it’s more because of what you said. I was a bully to avoid getting bullied myself. I never joined in with the cracks in the locker room, but silence is no excuse. I knew what I was doing, staying with that crowd, watching them hassle the honor-roll crowd. I was a coward, and I’d chosen what felt like the easiest path. Figured my dad was less likely to find out if I stuck to the jock crowd, but it seemed like I’d be the worst kind of hypocrite to be messing around on the down low.”

Milo having a weird sort of conscience was somehow fitting. I still didn’t like what he’d done, but knowing he’d been so hard on himself did somewhat soften my tone. “That doesn’t stop a lot of people.”

“Maybe not. But I was already a shitty enough human, you know?”

“Maybe you had reason to be shitty,” I allowed. “I mean, sure, you didn’t have to let your friends be assholes, but I kind of see why you couldn’t come out. You couldn’t risk being thrown out of the house. I’m not going to pretend that I know what I would have done in your shoes. I had it easy.”

Unlike Milo, there really hadn’t been any drama. Long before I got up the courage to tell Milo freshman year and to go to the high school club, my mom had guessed. My parents had a huge social circle and extended family. I’d known several same-sex couples growing up, and telling her the truth had been ridiculously easy compared to what some kids faced.

“Thanks.” Milo nodded sharply. “And I wouldn’t say you had it easy. You were so brave. You had all that teasing in school for being a nerd, and the people who could have stood up for you didn’t.”

“I had friends.” Not him, but I’d had plenty of others, both in high school and college. I’d never been truly alone, and it was starting to feel like maybe despite having the crowd of Neanderthals, Milo had been more alone than me.

“I’m glad.” Milo’s tone was pained, and I wasn’t sure whether it was from the conversation or the snow flurries hitting the highway with more regularity now. Crap. We were supposed to be on the cusp of spring, but Mother Nature hadn’t received the message yet. “I’m not trying to excuse what I did. And I’m still here, taking the least complicated path. Still with the shitty friend choices.”

“I can’t argue with that. You could always try something radical. Get new friends.”