13. Outed

It was lunchtime with Vera that made Sloan head out early, leaving his desk and walking to the small restaurant one block away from the office. She was already there when he arrived. Vera said that she had an appointment nearby after lunch. It was why she had called her brother the night before for their lunch date.

"Mom told me that she worries about you," Vera asked when the waiter left the table with their order.

"Was there even an appointment, or is this your way of butting into my life?" He drinks his glass of water trying to calm himself down. Sloan knows that his family meant well and he needs to keep his cool.

"Sloan, you're my only brother. I care about you. Are you seeing someone?" Her eyes locked into his, just like they did when they were kids and she wanted him to tell the truth. Those days it was as simple as how she had made him promise that he wouldn't tell Mom and Dad when he saw her kissing their hot next-door neighbor who Sloan had the biggest crush on growing up.