Page 106 of Line Change

“No.” I close my eyes. “I was seeing Nolan Fraser.”

The call goes silent. I wait until I can’t stand it anymore. “Grayson?”

“Nolan Fraser is a guy.”

My face gets hot even though he can’t see me. “I’m very aware of that.”

“Ben.”

“Grayson.”

“Ben.”

I get up because sitting still is making this worse. “I’m still figuring this shit out. Bisexual doesn’t feel right, and I don’t know what does.”

Grayson is quiet for a second. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Do you want me to call you something?”

“No. I just wanted you to know.” I walk toward the window. “I should’ve told you when you were here. You asked if I was seeing someone, and I said no.”

“You weren’t ready.”

“I lied.”

“Ben, come on. You tell me when you’re ready to tell me. That’s how this works.”

I have to swallow before I answer. “Okay.”

“Was Nolan the guy in the locker room who told me I’d picked the wrong queer night?”

“Yeah.”

“He was pretty pleased with himself.”

Despite everything, I smile. “He usually is.”

“Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

Grayson doesn’t ask for an explanation I don’t have. “Call me tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I will.”

“Good.”

“I’m glad you told me.”

“Me too.”

Korolev’s voice reaches us again, farther away than before. Grayson answers him, then comes back to me.

“And congratulations,” he says.

“Thanks.”