“I’m just trying to imagine you in flannel pink sock monkey pajamas. I’m sure you look stunning in pink. (Damien)Actually, with his skin tone he probably does look really good in it. I would definitely say he’s an autumn. (Kish)That’s summer, you dweeb. (Damien)I find it fascinating that you two women know that color palettes for clothes have a name. The fact you corrected him really scares me. (Sin)”

“In that case, we need to seriously arm ourselves. (Sin)Hail Mary, full of grace – (Kish)What are you doing? You’re not Catholic. (Damien)Yeah, but I’m feeling really religious all of a sudden and it seemed like a good idea. (Kish)”

“I glance down at the over-sized t-shirt and socks I’m wearing. “You’d be sadly disappointed if you actually saw what I wear to bed.” “You know, clothes are overrated as far as I’m concerned. I’m good with you totally doing away with them when you visit me.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “Noel...” I say his name like a warning.”

“So, what—you just walk right past me? Don’t even say hello?” He clutches the socks to his chest. “I’m crushed. I saved us a table and everything.”I glance at him. Keep walking.He catches up. “I’m serious. Do you have any idea how awkward it is to wave at someone and have them ignore you? And then you’re just looking around like a jackass, trying to be all, ‘No, really, I swear, I know that girl’ and no one believes y—”

“We could call you an ambisexual. A duosexual. A—”“Do I really have to find a word for it?” Kyle interrupts. “Can’t it just be what it is?”“Of course,” I say, even though in the bigger world I’m not so sure. The world loves stupid labels. I wish we got to choose our own.We pause for a moment. I wonder if that’s all—if he just needed to say the truth and have it heard. But then Kyle looks at me with unsure eyes and says, “You see, I don’t know who I’m supposed to be.”“Nobody does,” I assure him.”

“I will tell no one what I know of the two of you. But I would ask one small price for my silence. (Damien)And that is? (Rowena)If you still believe in God, then say a prayer for me. He turned a deaf ear to my pleas long ago. (Damien)”