“It wasn’t about the lineup,’ he said without meaning to. ‘Normally I would say something about how everyone is free to experiment,’ Jeremy said, ‘or some tried and true nonsense about consenting adults doing what they like. But Jean, you’re nineteen. If I’m doing the math right, you were sixteen when you joined the line. That’s statutory rape any way you look at it. They never should have said yes when you asked.’
‘I didn’t ask’
It was out before he knew it was coming, ragged with an anger that left his throat aching. Jean’s hand went up like he could somehow snatch the words back. Jeremy started to grab at him before thinking better of it and carding his fingers through his own hair instead. Jean put space between them immediately, getting out of Jeremy’s reach as fast as he could. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Don’t say anything’.”