Page 64 of Breaking Free
Dad stands up and sits on the other side of me, his hand on my back, but he doesn’t say anything. I feel this weird sense of relief and confusion.
“You’re okay with it?” I question, a lump lodged in my throat.
Mom makes eye contact with Dad before she looks at me again. “Trevor, I thought you might’ve been years ago.”
My eyes widen. “What? How? Why?”
“I thought you and Lorenzo had a thing,” she says simply with a shrug. “He was always open about his sexuality and you two spent a lot of time together. I don’t know,” she says with a shrug.
“Because he was gay you thought I was gay? I also spent time with Dex.”
“I know, but you didn’t look at Dex the way you looked at Lorenzo.”
I shoot up from the couch. “I’m sorry, what?” I laugh with no humor. “I looked at him differently?”
She glances at Dad like she’s worried she said too much. “I thought so. Did you not like him?”
I run my hands through my hair. “I—not like that...I don’t think. I mean, he’s attractive but…” I trail off and start wondering if I always had a crush on my friend and didn’t realize it. Is that possible? I was just in awe of him. He had one of those personalities that puts you in a better mood. He was funny and outgoing and I liked being around him.
I shake my head. “Okay, I’m just freaking out a little, but that’s besides the point. You thought I was gay and didn’t say anything? Why?”
“Me and your father talked about it briefly, but it didn’t feel right to bring that to you. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable. I assumed you’d tell me if you were. You just never brought girls over. You went to school dances with your friends and never made mention of dates.”
“I’ve dated girls.” Her brows shoot up. “Well, not date.” Dad coughs. “Anyway, so, you both thought it was a possibility?”
They both nod, but Dad finally speaks up. “We don’t care either way. Like girls, like guys, date both.” He shrugs. “As long as you’re happy.”
I drop down to the empty couch and a sob escapes my throat. The relief I feel is immeasurable. They don’t care. They never did. I could’ve been free sooner, but at this moment, I’ve never felt happier and more relieved.
They join me on the couch and wrap their arms around me, Mom sobbing next to me as Dad pats and rubs my shoulders.
“I’m sorry for keeping it from you guys for so long,” I say, sniffling. “I feel like I’ve been questioning myself for years, but I went along with what was expected. I don’t think I fully accepted the truth until recently.”
“Hey, you’re our son,” Dad says, piercing me with the green eyes he gave to me. “Nothing could ever change the way we feel about you. We’re so proud of you, and we love you more than anything in the world.”
The unconditional love they have hits me hard in the chest, causing more tears to leak from my eyes. It’s several minutes before I pull myself together. When I do, I decide to tell them one more thing.
“I met someone.”
Dominic
26
WatchingTrevor come out to Jayden was pretty endearing. He handled it well, and though I could tell he was looking to me for some help, that was his moment. I don’t have any expectations as far as him coming out to everyone now, but at least he felt comfortable enough to tell one of his closest friends.
When I get home, Mom eyes me with amusement from the couch. “Have fun?”
I grin. “Yeah.”
“Anyone special?”
I shrug as I sit next to her. “You never know, do you?”
She shifts, placing her mug next to her on the end table. “What do you mean?”
“How do you know if someone is special? You’re only seeing what they want you to see in the beginning. Sometimes that lasts a while, but true colors always come out.”
“Are you being yourself with him?” she questions.