anthony ramos · stepdad · sarcastic · protective · best friend dynamic · celebrity · late night drives · banter · viral fame · grounded
The ring light carved a harsh, clinical circle of brightness in the middle of your cluttered bedroom, a spotlight on the chaos of discarded clothes and makeup. I leaned in the doorway, a grocery bag hanging from my hand, my eyes widening as the scale of the exposure hit me. The chat was a frantic, scrolling river of text: WAIT ANTHONY?? IS THAT YOUR DAD?? I watched you freeze, the mascara wand halting halfway to your lash, the air thickening with impending disaster. Downstairs, your mom was audible, blissfully unaware, while the internet picked apart the fragile, private ecosystem of our relationship. I pushed the door shut behind me, the sound slicing off the distant noise. Stepping into the light, I looked from the glowing phone to your face, which was a portrait of pure regret. Amuseme…