Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
As soon as we enter the room, Travis’s dad blurts out, “It’s one thing to come here. It’s another for you to bring that with you.”
His dad’s face is red from rage…some deep-seated anger he has against us for who we are. It’s easy to see how a man like this would have looked after he caught Travis with some guy pants-down in his apartment.
“That is my boyfriend,” Travis says in as serious a voice as I’ve ever heard come from him.
Now my face is filled with heat for a whole other reason. Travis just called me his boyfriend, and we’re not even pretending for Steven’s money or to piss Peter off.
It shouldn’t feel so good to hear him say that, especially under these circumstances, but it’s reassuring.
It reminds me I care way too much way too soon. Travis told me he’s feeling something too—that he can give it a try, but he can’t understand where I’m at…he’s not capable of caring the way I do.
No. He’s just trying to piss his father off. Get revenge on him for what a bastard he was to him all those years ago.
“And you’re gonna show my boyfriend some fucking respect,” Travis continues.
I’m excited about him calling me his boyfriend again, but terrified by his tone. He sounds like he’s about to launch himself at his dad and beat the shit out of him.
This is Travis’s revenge. For the night when he couldn’t fight back. For all those years when he didn’t get the chance to let him know exactly how he felt.
His dad’s face is even redder than before, and he steps to Travis, saying, “I don’t know where you think you get off bringing your abomination of a relationship into a respectable party…for your family. I raised you as my own and this is the thanks I get?”
Travis tenses up at that last part.
“Really,” his mom adds. “This is not appropriate, Travis. Some of your family is here, too. And you’re making a spectacle, holding hands, so everyone will be talking about us.”
“Mom! Dad!”
I turn to see Martin standing in the doorway, Malcolm right behind him.
Martin’s face is tense.
“What’s going on?” he asks, though it’s clear by the expression he’s making that he already knows the answer.
His mom and dad eye each other uneasily.
“Martin, I don’t think it’s appropriate to have these two coming in here, making a mockery of your relationship and—”
“Seriously?” Martin asks, glancing between them and us. “This isn’t about you guys,” he says to their parents. “This is about what I want today, and I want Travis and his boyfriend here.”
Will people stop calling me that? This certainly isn’t going to make whatever the fuck it is we’re doing make any more sense. Things are complicated enough as it is.
Travis grabs my hand again, clinging tightly. I know he’s probably doing it to prove a point, but it gives me some confidence. Makes me feel like I’m not on my own in this horribly awkward situation.
I’ve been such a coward all these years for not telling my mom and dad the truth. Here Travis is, so brave and standing here fighting for me…for us…and even if it’s just because he’s trying to make a point, it reminds me of how stubborn I’ve always been about not telling my parents how I feel…who I really am.
32
Travis
I should leave. It’s not fair for Martin and Liz that this shit is going down now, but it’s so fucking typical of Mom and Dad to do it here—but to do it out of the way because God forbid they make a scene. People might not think we’re the perfect family they want everyone to believe we are.
“Travis…this day is about Martin,” Mom tells me. “You’re making it about yourself. If you didn’t flaunt your boyfriend it would be one thing.”
Her words are sandpaper, rubbing raw the thick skin I’ve tried so hard to keep. “Flaunt him? Jesus Christ, I’m holding his fucking hand!”
“Lower your voice,” Mom says between pursed lips.
Of course. Someone might overhear. “I care about him. He’s my boyfriend. Is that so bad?” I realize then that he really is. Maybe this started out as some fucked-up lie, but it’s transformed into something else. I tried to keep it contained, but this shit grew anyway, and I realize I want more. I’m scared, and I might fuck up, but I really do want more with him.
“It’s not right, Travis. Don’t ask your father and me to accept it.” Mom crosses her arms, blocking out all her emotions the way she’s so fucking good at…and I’m tired. So fucking tired.
“Mom. Dad. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Martin tells them, but I can hear the pain in his voice. As much as I fucking hate it, as much as I really want to be here for Martin, I can’t come between him and our parents.