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I laughed. Our school guidance counselor and one of Mom’s new best friends was definitely quirky with her unending supply of colorful dresses and earrings. “Her husband and stepson came to help with some of the heavy lifting.”
“I knew Cohen would be there, but I didn’t think Ollie would be back from LA until tomorrow.” She smiled, holding the chaps to her chest. “I’m excited to see them at the parade. How did the Academy’s float look?”
“Like some fancy donor paid way too much to have it done.”
She grinned. “Great. You’re going to be so pretty on the back of the float.”
Pretty and me didn’t exactly go in the same sentence. While my mom was petite and had curves in all the right places, I’d gotten my father’s square build, with broad shoulders and enough meat on my bones to size me out of most department stores. Not that I minded being not pretty. There were so many more important things in life.
Beingmewas more than enough.
“Maybe you’ll meet someone to go to prom with next year,” Mom continued.
I glanced inadvertently toward my dress. Maybe a part of me had hoped to have a date, but no one else was out at my school, and internet dating didn’t sound fun to me.
“Maybe,” I said, knowing that the odds of me staying single for the rest of high school and beyond were way more likely than me finding someone I already knew to go with to prom.
Eight
Kiyana
On Friday night,Stefon and I sat side by side at a giant table in the back room of La Belle, surrounded by friends and family. Our parents had reserved the restaurant for our going-away dinner to say goodbye before we went away to college together on Sunday as a “couple.” But if Stefon stayed true to his word, those hopes would be dashed tonight.
There were already bowls of buttery garlic bread being shared around to the low hum of conversation passed easily between our families. They didn’t know everything was going to change tonight.
“Are you getting so excited to go cheer?” my aunt Emily asked beside me.
I smiled and nodded. “I’ve had so much fun at Emerson.”
“I think going to a private college was just the right decision for you,” Aunt Emily said. “Not too big. You two will make lots of great friends there, especially with Stefon on the football team.”
“Definitely.” The truth was Elmbrooke University was the only school with a cheer team that didn’t have a weight limit. I was too big to get on a D1 cheer team, but I wanted to continue doing what I love. Stefon had gotten onto the football team there with ease. He could have played at a bigger college, but he wanted to be with me. And I wanted to be with him. Even if we weren’t in love, we were best friends.
I glanced to my left to see Stefon talking with his cousin Bart on the other side. Bart had played in the state championship twenty years ago and had never moved on.
Stefon didn’t seem to mind. He was always good at putting on an act when everyone was around, a mask. Sometimes I couldn’t believe I was the only one who saw it. But then again, I’d been wearing a mask of my own. And we’ve been keeping a secret that no one knows.
Was that secret really being shared tonight?
Servers brought more food to the table, plates of pasta and salad and dishes with chicken, shrimp, and steak. The smell was almost intoxicating.
I was so focused on my food I almost didn’t notice how quiet it had gotten. But Emily nudged my arm, and I glanced over to see Stefon standing, his face paler than I’d ever seen it.
“Stef?” I whispered.
He glanced down at me, but only for a moment. He squared his shoulders. Fixed his blazer. And said, “I have something to say.”
My lips parted and my stomach sank, immediately imagining the worst was yet to come.Don’t do it, Stef. Please don’t do it.
He either couldn’t hear my silent plea or ignored it because he said, “I’m glad you all are here, because there’s something I’ve needed to say for a long time now.”
Stefon.
Aunt Emily whispered, “Are you pregnant?” but everyone ignored her, hanging on to Stefon’s every word.
“I’m gay. I’ve known for a while, and of course, this has nothing to do with Kiyana.” He glanced at me, a gentle look in his eyes. He was giving me an out, letting me carry on with my secret if I chose. “I know it might be hard for you to understand, but I wanted you to know the truth before I leave. I hope you know I’m still the same Stefon. But if you can’t accept that, please just... be kind.”
I should have been looking at Stefon’s parents to see how they’d react, if they’d accept him. But instead I looked at my parents. At my mom’s slack mouth and the shock in her eyes. At my dad, who’d gone stone-faced. At my grandparents who were shaking their heads and getting up from the table... leaving the restaurant. Walking away from a boy who had been at every birthday party, every Christmas, for the last four years. Was it really that easy for them to just walk away?
