The Virgin Manny by Amy Lane

Author:Amy Lane [Lane, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63477-680-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

Routinely Coming Home

TINO took the next day off and drove to his parents’. Or, he sort of took the next day off, because while Channing was home, he’d been planning to work outside while Sammy swam and played, and Tino felt bad about that. Sammy had fun the day before, and he’d loved playing with Nica and Elaina. It didn’t feel like an imposition to take the little boy with him—he wanted to.

His father had gone out for donuts, and his mother had made chorizo and eggs, and the entire family sat down to brunch in a mob.

Sammy didn’t say much, but he listened with wide eyes as Nica and Elaina ribbed Tino about the day before. Tino responded to their jibes about him freaking out about the house with good humor, saying that he couldn’t expect them to respect a house like Channing’s because he’d seen their rooms, but he didn’t miss Nica’s pale face and the way she didn’t meet his eyes. She excused herself before anybody else left the table, and asked Sammy if he wanted to come into the living room and play with Elaina’s guinea pig.

Sammy was thrilled, and Frito got the grooming of his life.

As soon as they disappeared from the kitchen, Tino caught Elaina’s eyes and darted a quick glance toward where Nica had just been. “So?”

Elaina cast the same quick look. “She and Taylor talked all last night after we got home. Then she ran into her room crying, and then”—her voice dropped—“she stayed up all night talking to Jacob.”

Tino’s eyes got big. “Jacob?”

“Yeah, I know! I couldn’t believe it either. I mean, Miss Captain Business goes to Mr. Dudebro Slacker for a broken heart? It’s not likely, right?”

Tino shook his head, horrified. Oh God, oh God, oh God. Don’t let this happen, because then I will have to hear all about it, and if things go south I will have to hate Jacob because she’s my sister, man!

“Don’t look so frightened,” Tino’s mother laughed. “If he knocks her up, at least she’ll move close by!”

“Mom!” Tino and Elaina said in chorus.

“What, Tino?” his father said. “You didn’t see this coming from a mile away?”

“No,” Tino muttered. “I didn’t see it coming from yesterday.” Except that was a lie, wasn’t it? Both he and Channing had seen the little triangle evolving. Well, square if you counted Tino. And, well, pentagon if you counted Channing, but Tino didn’t, because none of anybody’s business, that was why.

“Well, you should have,” his mother said. “And you know what? I know you worry because all Jacob cares about is cars, but do you really think your sister is going to be happy in an office building wearing high heels?”

Tino stared at his mother, surprised. “Uh—”

“I mean, I have to go to the office full time now, but I was happiest when I got to visit the houses and make sure my girls were doing things right. You think her dinner box business was so successful because she was great at business—or maybe great at lasagna?”

Tino blinked.

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