I scowl at Dom. “You think you’re being funny, but you’re not.”

“We’ll talk about that later,” Bear growls at Otter.

Dom and Otter share a look I can’t even begin to decipher, but I’m sure is full of shit.

“Things were different for Otter and me,” Bear says to me. “You can’t even begin to compare the two.”

“How?” I ask. “How is what you and Otter have any different?”

“For one, we’ve been together a long time.”

“Yeah, but you had to start somewhere.”

“It certainly wasn’t with fucking!”

“How in God’s name did you get there, and why is that the only thing you’re fixated on?”

“Do you want to get chlamydia?”

“I don’t have chlamydia,” Dom say.

“I’m not stupid,” I say to Bear. “We used protection.”

Bear’s eyes narrow. “So you did have sex.”

“Yes,” I retort. “And it was fucking awesome. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking about doing it again tonight!” I’m not, actually. I’m pretty sure my ass is going to be sore for days.

“Not here you won’t!”

“Well, then it’s a good thing Dom has his own house!”

“Dom,” Otter says. “Want to go have a beer in the backyard?”

“Sure,” he says. “This is probably going to go on for a while, huh?”

“It’s just getting started,” Otter says. “Come on. I’ll give you some insight as to what you’re in for.”

“I heard that!” Bear and I say at the same time.

“Be nice,” Otter says to Bear, kissing him on the cheek.

“Don’t yell too much,” Dom says to me, squeezing my hand.

Then they practically run from the room. The jerks.

“That went well,” I mutter. I lean against the wall and glare at my brother.

He’s watching the entryway where Dom and Otter disappeared. “It usually does with us.”

“Think before you talk, much? You just asked us if we were fucking. Jesus Christ.”

“What else was I supposed to say?”

“I don’t know. Maybe something with even a modicum of tact? That might be a good place to start. I’m not a kid anymore, Bear.”

“No,” he says. “You’re not.”

“You’ve got to start understanding that.”

“I do,” he says. “More than you could possibly know. Every day I’m reminded of it. Decisions made without my input. Things happening I can’t control.” He sighs. “It sucks.”

“That’s life.”

His eyes flash. “That’s not our life. We’ve always done things together. Made decisions together. Took steps together.”

I say nothing.

“Then all of these things happen,” he continues, starting to pace. “You announce to the world you’re gay without talking to me first. You get a boyfriend. You get hooked on the benzos. You almost flunk out of school. You didn’t care what I said. Or what Otter said. Or Corey. Anyone.”

“I did,” I say. “Eventually. It just took time.”

“It shouldn’t have!” he snaps. “It shouldn’t have.”

“But it did. I’m not perfect, Bear. I’ve fucked up. I know this. I make mistakes.”