Chapter 13

December 28

Wylie held the phone to his ear and sighed as it rang. He needed help here and his dad was good at giving advice.

“Wylie?”

“Hey, Dad.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about that.” He heard his dad sigh this time. “I mean physically anyway.”

“Okay, that’s pretty loaded. What’s happened?”

So Wylie told him everything about the safety deposit box, police station, meeting the Rinquists, and spending the night on the living room floor in their sleeping bags because Grady’s old bedroom was still outfitted for a toddler and they just couldn’t.

Wylie knew he babbled, just verbally vomited it all into his dad’s ear, and it probably sounded like some kind of crazy, unrealistic story, but… “I just can’t believe it’s all so real.”

His dad took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out in a long whoosh. “Well. That’s a lot to take in.”

“Tell me about it.”

“How’s Grant holding up?”

“Okay, I think.”

Wylie cast a look into the kitchen where Grant stood making pancakes with his dad. They were so alike when they smiled. Every last one of them—even Valerie—was in there looking relaxed and crazy happy.

“I mean, he’s been really emotional and all,” Wylie continued, “but that’s got to be normal, right? Like dinner last night was really over-polite, but today’s been good.”

“I don’t know what might be normal in a situation like that, but I imagine it’ll be strange for everyone for a while.” He sighed. “Wylie, do you think maybe you should not be there right now? Maybe let them get to know each other on their own?”

Wylie sighed, too. “Yeah, I know.”

“But?”

“No buts. I just…” He swallowed hard.

“It’s not the end of anything.”

That’s what made Wylie’s chest ache. “It might be.”

“No, now c’mon. This is a very emotional time, like you said, and adding anything more onto it—even if it’s something wonderful like your relationship—can be too much.”

Wylie glanced into the kitchen again as laughter reached him. Grant was fitting right in. Wylie looked away.

“I’m not even sure he’s missing me right now.”

“There’s just too much on his plate, honey. It really isn’t you. You know that, right? This is some huge and heavy stuff he’s dealing with. I know you want to support him and not lose what you’ve been making on this trip together—”

“But we need a break.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I know it hurts.”

“Do you?”

“Sure. Every couple has their hard times.” He huffed a laugh. “Yours just came early and crazy-side up.”

Wylie snorted. “Boy did it.”

“And Grant’s not the only one with things to work out at home.”

That stung. “Should I just go back to the frat?”

“No. Wylie, you should see your mom right now. She’s a mess.”

“What’s she doing?”

“Worrying about you.”

“Oh.”

“You’re still her baby.”

“Yeah, but am I her baby girl or—”

“Don’t do that. Come home. Talk. Something’s woken up in her, and I believe it’s an improvement. Let’s build on it.”

Hope fluttered inside Wylie. It was a dangerous feeling, but… “Okay.”

“Okay. Alright.” His dad sounded so relieved. “Do you need me to pick you up? Where are you?”

“I’m in Cordon. It’s, like, maybe four hours away. I could maybe get a bus.” There had to be something somewhere he could catch a ride on.

“No, just let me get some stuff together and get on the road. I should be there by noon or so.”

“I can drive us back,” Wylie offered.

“Works for me. Give me the address.”

Wylie did and kept to himself his wondering of whether his dad would listen to his phone’s map or go old school with a paper one. It was the family vacation joke, but he didn’t feel very funny right now.

“Okay, now, go talk to Grant.”

“Ugh…” Wylie rubbed at his eyes. “Yeah, okay.”

Wylie looked into the kitchen yet again and actually hated to interrupt. He loved seeing Grant so happy after everything he’d been through.

“He’ll understand,” his dad said soothingly. “And the way you kids today use your phones, it’s not like you’ll be out of touch for more than a few seconds.”

Wylie chuckled. “Yeah, yeah.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Dad.”

“Bye, kiddo.”

Wylie pocketed his phone and shuffled toward the kitchen.

“Hey, there you are,” Grant said with a beaming smile. “You want some pancakes?”

Wylie couldn’t muster much of a smile. “Sure, but… Can we talk a minute?”

There went Grant’s happiness. He nodded and hurried over. “What’s wrong?”

Wylie cocked his head and led the way toward the back of the house. It was a sort of mud room and laundry room combo, but it was probably far enough away from the kitchen for some privacy.

When Wylie stopped and turned to face him, Grant immediately looped his arms around Wylie’s waist. His expression was pure worry.

Wylie rested his hands on Grant’s arms. “Everything’s okay.”

Grant shook his head. “Something’s wrong.”

“Not wrong, just…” He sighed, and then just said it. “Grant, I think I should go home.”

“Wylie,” Grant said, his voice cracking. He grimaced and his face went red as he swallowed hard.

“Oh, please, don’t do that.” Wylie cupped Grant’s face. “I’m not leaving-leaving. I’m just giving you time to spend with your family.” He pecked Grant’s lips. “All of you need time to get to know each other, right? I’m giving you that and space to do it.”

Grant pulled him in close. “But I don’t want you to go. I really do need you.”

“And you’ve got me, but…” Wylie sniffed and felt his bottom lip quiver. “I’ve got family things to do, too,” he whispered as a lump filled his throat. “We’re both a mess right now. We need to fix ourselves up, you know?”

Grant sniffed and nodded before leaning in to rest his forehead on Wylie’s. They stood like that, not quite crying, until Wylie tipped his head and caught Grant’s mouth, kissing him slowly.

He had to go, they both knew it, but he wasn’t going to do that without some promises.

“We’re going to talk every day,” he said, his lips brushing Grant’s. “Text all the time and send photos or whatever. It’ll be like just after we met, right? Nothing’s changing.”

“Nothing.”

“Just a little distance and time to get our heads right.”

“Yeah.”

“I promise.”

“Me, too.”

“I lo—” Wylie caught himself. “I really like you, okay?”

Grant smiled so sweetly. “I really like you, too.”

A slow, easy warmth spread through Wylie and he pulled Grant down for kisses that matched. They’d be fine. Maybe their family situations were shaky, but they were solid together.

Running feet startled Wylie into breaking the kiss. He looked out into the hall, but there was no one there. “What was that?”

Grant didn’t look and just shrugged. “When are you going?”

Wylie refocused. “My dad’ll be here around noonish.”

Grant heaved a sigh and hugged Wylie tightly for a little while longer. For just a second, Wylie almost forgot why he was leaving. But it was the right thing to do. It was.

They walked out of the laundry room and back into the kitchen, where Grant stopped short and Wylie nearly bumped into him. The rest of the family was staring at them.

Grant gulped so hard Wylie could hear it. “What’s wrong?”

Hand to her chest, his mother asked, “Are you gay?”

Oh, crap.

“I’m bi, actually. There’s a difference and it matters.”

Okay, he should’ve considered this going in. When to come out to the family he just discovered he had… Was there even a good time for that? And it had been a really long time since he’d met someone who had a problem with his sexuality, but wide eyes or frowns said this wasn’t good.

“What else did she do to you?”

Grant stared at his mother. Oh, she was not accusing— “Excuse me?”

She stepped closer, red-faced and squity-eyed. “That woman. What did she do to—”

“Oh, hell no. Don’t you dare.” Grant stepped in now and wagged a finger in her face. “She might’ve been this horrible kidnapper, fine, but from the moment I came out to her, she continued to respect and love me unconditionally.”

He glared at each of them, giving them a moment to apologize, to say anything to make this better. When they didn’t, he straightened his shoulders and said, “Maybe you should think about whether you really want me back, or to keep holding onto the illusion of me.”

He turned and ushered a wide-eyed Wylie toward the front door.

“Don’t you walk away.”

The growl to his mother’s voice stopped Grant short halfway to the door. He turned to face her, torn between surprise and anger. “I—”

She held up her hand. “No, you give me a minute here.”

And she literally took one, too. Closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and held it. Curious, Grant waited.

Eyes open again, she looked calmer when she said, “I apologize. That wasn’t my finest moment. I do know better than that.”

“What do you know?” Grant felt like he was pushing it, but he wasn’t going to back down. Not from this.

“I know that you were born this way, and that your upbringing would only have made you feel safe enough to be yourself or oppressed you into hiding that part of you away.” She looked him right in the eyes and said, “She did the right thing.”

Grant could see that cost her to say such a thing about the woman she’d hated for so long. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

He watched her face crumple, the tears come on fast, and he stepped toward her with his arms out.

“No,” she said, and then gasped a breath. “You should be mad at me. That was terrible. We’re not homophobic. We’re Democrats, for pete’s sake.”

“Um, I forgive you?” Grant said.

“Thank you, but, honestly, I’m not like this.” She shook her head and covered her eyes.

His father came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders before kissing her cheek. “Everybody’s emotions are high, hon. Pretty sure we’re all going to make some mistakes.”

She looked up, but not at Grant. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry to you, too.”

Grant turned to see Wylie flushed and crying. He looked a little disgusted at himself, swiping at his tears and turning away, so Grant went over and hugged him.

Wylie’s breath caught and he clung to Grant. “She just… She apologized. Just like that. It’s over and fixed and everything.”

Grant didn’t know what to say. He felt bad that his relationship with his mom was okay, but Wylie’s might never be. Wasn’t fair.

“I’m sorry, Wylie,” Grant’s mom said. She petted Wylie’s golden curls back, looking miserable for all the wrong reasons.

“It’s not what you said, really,” Grant explained. “His mom…doesn’t accept him.”

“Oh, no. You poor little angel.” She got in between them and cuddled Wylie right up. Since he gripped her shirt and let it all out, Grant stepped back. Wylie needed a mom. He could share.

Grant’s father touched his shoulder. “Whoever you are is fine with us. We’ve got a lot of people who identify with a lot of labels in the family. This was…just a glitch.”

Everyone was hugging then, even Valerie, who apologized for outing them after she saw them kissing in the laundry room. And when Wylie was blushing and sniffing, Grant kissed him in front of them all this time, and they just smiled.