Lunch is perfect. No one misgenders Jude—not even once. The family conversations center on Bella’s soccer team, Charli’s upcoming school theater production, and my parents’ new weekly trivia night at a local brewery. My family doesn’t interrogate us about anything—only a few curious questions about Jude’s interests here and there, but nothing intrusive or remotely controversial. Jude eats everything on their plate, smiling and laughing with everyone.
Everything is perfect.
“So, I ended up buying the pies from a local bakery instead of making them myself,” Ashley confesses as she brings in two pie containers. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a crazy month at work, and I just didn’t have the energy.”
“Oh, hush,” Angela reprimands. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Ash. You made just about everything else we ate today. Store-bought pie is just fine.”
“Everything was delicious, baby,” Dad says, pecking a kiss on her cheek.
“Thanks, y’all,” Ashley says bashfully.
“Man, y’all need to try Jude’s baking,” I exclaim. “Their cookies are phenomenal.”
“Oh?” Ashley says, flashing Jude a smile. “Do you enjoy baking, Jude?”
Jude nods. “I do.”
“Well, if you’d like to join us around Christmastime, we would love to have you and your cookies, if it’s not too much trouble.”
Jude’s eyes twinkle. “I would love that. Thank you.”
“No offense, Oliver, but how in the world did you land someone as cool as Jude?” Charli asks.
“Uh, offense taken,” I reply, clutching my chest. “I’ve got rizz.”
Bella snorts. “Dude, you absolutely do not have rizz.”
“I’ve got rizz coming out of my butt, Bella. You don’t even know.”
“No one wants to hear about your butt,” Charli says, scrunching her nose.
Jude frowns, reaching for the buzzing phone in their pocket. Their eyes go wide with fear as they glance at the screen.
“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.
“It’s Taylor,” Jude whispers. “My cousin. She’s never called me before. I should probably take this.”
I nod. “Want me to come with you?”
Jude hesitates. “Would you?”
“Of course.”
We excuse ourselves and step into the laundry room, where Jude calls Taylor back. She puts the call on speaker phone.
“Hey, cousin,” Taylor answers.
Jude’s brow furrows at the greeting. “Hey, Taylor, sorry I missed your call. I was at lunch. What’s going on?”
There’s a sigh at the other end. “First and foremost, are you okay? I know yesterday was a lot, and after you fainted, you disappeared, so I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh,” Jude says. “Yeah, I’m okay now. I think it was from anxiety and low blood sugar. Once I got some water and food in my system, I was fine. Thank you for asking.”
“Good,” Taylor says. “I’m so glad. Danny and I were worried. The kids were, too. Liam, Emma, and Brooke all asked about you.”
I smile. Of course they did.
Jude exhales a soft laugh. “That’s sweet. Well, tell them I’m okay now.”
