Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow, #3)

by Rainbow Rowell

I shake my head. “I still can’t believe you’re doing this with me.” “I’ve kind of already done it with you. I used to follow you around the Catacombs every night.” I laugh. “Those weren’t dates, Snow.” He grins. “Is this a date, then?” I go back to scanning the alley for rats. “You really were obsessed with me, weren’t you? I can’t believe you didn’t know you were gay.” “I’m not gay,” Simon says. Immediately. I stop and turn back to him. “Oh. I’m sorry. I suppose, I mean—” We’ve never really talked about this. I’ve just assumed . . . I don’t know what I’ve assumed. “Are you bi, then?” “What?” He looks put off. “No.” “Well . . .” I look around the alley, like I might find something helpful there. I hold up my hands. I forget I’m carrying rats. “What does that leave, Simon? Do you still think you’re straight?” “Christ, Baz, I never thought I was straight. I never thought about it at all.” He’s walking down the alley, away from me. I follow after him. “Haven’t you thought about it a little? Since us?” “What’s there to think about? I’m with you. And you’re a . . .” He trails off. “Man,” I say flatly. Simon shrugs. “I was going to say ‘boy.’” “I’m twenty years old. I could go to war.” “I’d rather you didn’t.” “So, you do know you’re dating a man. That’s a start.” He turns to wink at me. “A-ha, this is a date.” “Simon, I’m being serious.” I’ve stopped walking. He stops, too. “Yeah, but why are you being serious? Is this important? Is this, like, our second-biggest problem? Me no...