Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Letting my family know is a lot different than going public, but it’s only a matter of time before it spills out into the real world. We don’t even know how it will work between the three of us going forward, and maybe we’re not ready for this. But Prescott’s family knows, Kit doesn’t have any family, and … I’ve been keeping this secret for far too long.
There’s that little piece of doubt in the back of my mind that Prescott, Kit, and I will even be able to build a relationship after this summer is over and I go back to New York and Prescott goes back to Cali, and if that’s the case, and this ends, I’m going to need my family for support.
“Think about it some more,” Prescott says.
“No, I’m good to go. I’ve run out of excuses, and the truth is I do want to do this. But you know how Prescott’s parents are a lot? I not only have embarrassing parents but about a million queer uncles and cousins who are just as bad. It’s not only two people.”
“A million? Really?” Kit asks.
I start to count aloud: “My dads, Uncles Damon, Maddox, Matt, Noah, Ollie, Lennon, Jet, Soren, brother Peyton, his partner Levi—though he already knows—then we have cousins Jackie, Four, and Freddie. I don’t even know if it’s possible to warn you enough.”
“We’re SEALs—”
Prescott coughs. “I’m a SEAL. You’re a mere civilian. Peasant.”
“So glad we’ve moved on to the joking portion of our bitterness over me quitting the navy. My point is we can handle anything.”
“How bad can it really be?” Prescott asks.
They have no idea, but they’re about to.
I hit the Call button on our family chat, and because I hesitated and am a couple of minutes late, everyone’s waiting.
Some of them are using one computer, so only nine boxes come up, and everyone has made it, with the exception of Uncle Jet, but he’s probably in a recording studio or has some rock star duty to attend to.
It takes less than a second for—
“Boom,” Dad says. “I see a hand. Brady’s got a boyfriend. I was right.”
Kit’s hand flies off my shoulder, but it’s too late.
“Yeah, real detective work there, Dad,” my brother says. “Considering we all know some dude climbed out his window in New York.” He slow claps. Levi shoves him.
Uncle Lennon, the family reporter, leans in closer to the screen. “If it was only news of a boyfriend, why make this big announcement? Especially if you all saw the guy in New York.”
“See, that’s real detective work,” Uncle Ollie says.
“Are we going to let me talk here?” I ask.
“Hang on a minute,” Dad says. “Ever stop to think that clearly his boyfriend is there, so he wants to introduce him to us?”
“Why does that need this huge song and dance though?” Uncle Lennon says. “Unless it’s that he’s getting married or—”
“No—” I try to say but am immediately cut off.
“There’s going to be a wedding!” Jackie cries out. “Can I plan it? I’m a woman. I know how to decorate things real pretty-like.”
“That’s sexist,” Freddie says.
“Okay, I’ll rephrase. I’m the only one here with taste.”
Freddie rolls his eyes, but the rest of the family agrees with her.
Freddie is a brooding artist like his dad Uncle Jet, much to Uncle Soren’s dismay because Freddie has amazing hockey talent. Could’ve gone all the way until he decided in high school to become this emo boy.
The whole group chat becomes a start and stop of comments, everyone trying to talk over each other, and no one actually listening when I tell them to listen to me.
“There will be no wedding!” I yell.
And when everyone is silent again, I look up at Prescott and then at Kit. “I told you both they’re the worst.”
I let that hang in the air.
My words slowly tick over in their brains, and the only ones who don’t look confused are Levi, Four, and Uncles Damon and Maddox.
Then the explosion of chatter starts again.
“Who’s the other guy?” “Where are you?” “What is happening?” “Why are you making me math?” That last one came from Peyton.
“When you’re all done,” I say casually. It’s the only way to really deal with my family—let them have their drama, their whines, their outbursts, and then talk to them like they’re children.
They settle again.
“I’m not going to do this big speech about always feeling different growing up. We all know what that feeling is like. I thought it was weird because even though I grew up in this found family my dads were a part of, I still felt different. I questioned everything—my gender, my sexuality, everything. And then a couple of years ago, I met two guys who made me realize what that part inside me was, and it’s that I have so much love to give that limiting it to one person isn’t enough for me.”